BURLINGTON, Vt. – On Friday, March 27, Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Mercier and members of the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) visited the Vermont Children’s Hospital to honor the most recent Young Heroes Award recipient.
The Noncommissioned Officer Academy Graduates Association (NCOAGA) sponsors The Young Heroes award program. The program honors children who have displayed courage and bravery while battling life-threatening disease, illness or injuries. The primary goal is to pay tribute to the courage and dignity of real life young heroes whose tremendous life-struggle might have otherwise gone unnoticed.
“It’s a way for us to give back,” said Mercier, the security forces manager and President of the local chapter of the NCOAGA. “A way to give an opportunity for these young people to be recognized for the hard work and sacrifice they have gone through.”
Master Sgt. Peter Chevalier, member of the NCOAGA and the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Cyber Transport at the VTANG, explained the history of the Young Heroes program with the Vermont Guard goes as far back as the 1980s. The program took a brief hiatus but was renewed in 2006. With close to six awards per year, this was the 53rd award since the program was restarted.
Mercier went on to say how important community involvement is to the National Guard mission at the national level, but also in a local capacity. Recipients and their families are also invited to visit the 158th Fighter Wing for a tour of the facility, bringing the community involvement full circle.
“Without the support from our community we would not be able to accomplish our mission,” Mercier said. “The Young Heroes program is not about promoting the VTANG or the military. It’s about recognizing how essential the members of our local area are to our success. The program and base tours are just one way that we can show how we appreciate their support.”
Chevalier said that of the 20 members of the local NCOAGA chapter, usually four or five will attend a Young Heroes presentation. He also said that the program often has other Airmen volunteer to attend, either because they know the family or are interested in joining the program and continuing to support it.
Children can be referred to the program by family members, friends, hospitals, social workers, support groups, nurses, teachers, physicians or anyone who knows the child and can verify they have faced or are currently facing a life threatening disease or injury. Once a potential recipient has been nominated members of the NCOAGA contact the child’s parents to ensure they have permission to present the award.
“Because of the sensitive nature of the program, we always get permission from the parents or guardians before we move forward,” Mercier explained. “Sometimes we’re asked not to come, some parents feel it would cause unnecessary stress and would rather their child recover more, but usually we get permission to continue and the way the children light up when they see us is the best part.”
As part of the program the recipient is given a medal during a brief military ceremony, they are also awarded a commendation expressing the respect the VTANG and NCOAGA members have for the strength and fortitude the recipient showed during their struggle.
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