Submariner recognized as Military Citizen of the Year

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Tim Comerford | Gary McCollum, COX Communications, Senior Vice President and General Manager talks with senior Navy leadership at the Military Citizen of the Year Award luncheon, Oct. 7, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

10.07.2009

Story by Stacey Byington 

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic

Norfolk, Va. — The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce-Norfolk Division Armed Forces Committee has recognized Petty Officer First Class Rodney E. Buse as its 2009 Military Citizen of the Year.

Buse is assigned as a force protection assistant on the staff of Commander, Naval Submarine Force.

The award is named in honor of Samuel T. Northern, a local businessman who devoted most of his life to strengthening the relationship between the local community and the military. Since 1955, the Samuel T. Northern Military Citizen of the Year Award has been given annually to recognize the military citizen who has made the most significant contribution in the area of community service. Nominees were invited from all five military services, and this year there were 17 nominees from among Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard commands in the Hampton Roads area.

Buse is involved in foster and adoptive children programs and identified a need to help keep foster children more involved in the communities they live in. Earlier this year he founded the BMX for Christ Ministries Bike Club. The group was organized to provide under-privileged children the opportunity to learn about BMX cycling, and it has raised more than $2,000 to purchase BMX bicycles and pay national licensing and entry fees for children to compete in local and state tournaments.

Additionally, he has helped raise more than $1,000 for the American Diabetes Association by organizing and participating in the 100-mile 'Tour de Cure' which highlighted the need for continued research efforts to ultimately find a cure for diabetes. He is also active in Bethany Christian Services, a children's adoption agency, and meets with pre-adoptive families to talk about his personal experiences adopting an older child, and those with special needs.

Petty Officer Buse is an outstanding Sailor and an exemplary role model," said Commander, Naval Submarine Force acting chief of staff, T. H. Barge II. "His dedication and commitment to volunteering in the civilian community are commendable and has unquestionably strengthened the bond between local civilian communities and the U.S. Navy. His numerous and dynamic contributions mark him as an individual worthy of recognition as the 2009 Military Citizen of the Year."

The announcement was made today during the Chamber's annual Military Citizen of the Year Luncheon, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, the event that kicks off Fleet Week Hampton Roads, which continues through Oct. 18.

Fleet Week Hampton Roads, held each October in conjunction with the Navy birthday, now 234 years young, celebrates and recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of our sea services, past and present, made by our Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen, who are neighbors, volunteers and citizens actively working to enhance the quality of life for Hampton Roads.

• Date Taken: 10.07.2009
• Date Posted: 10.07.2009 15:44
• Story ID: 39788
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US