Photo By Sgt. Alvin Conley | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John V. Meyer III, the commanding general of the 1st Infantry...... read more read more
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FORT RILEY, Kan. — The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley held a Volunteer of the Quarter Recognition Ceremony March 28, 2023, at Victory Hall Division Headquarters.
The ceremony was held to honor 34 Soldiers and community members who were awarded either the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal or the Volunteer of the Quarter Award.
“You made a difference, because when you volunteer and you’re helping somebody else, you’ve touched somebody’s life,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John V. Meyer III, the commanding general of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley to the awardees. “So, I thank you, because not only did you volunteer to serve your country, but you volunteered again and made a commitment to serve your community.”
Meyer, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher L. Mullinax, the 1st Inf. Div. command sergeant major, highlighted the Big Red One Soldiers, DA civilians, Soldier-family members and military retirees who invested their time and resources into the installation and community while volunteering during October-December of 2022.
Community service and additional activities of the 1st Inf. Div. community has given the recipients an opportunity to give back to the community, build social actions and promote strong community stewardship values across the installation.
One Soldier, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Phillip Wright, a motor transport operator with Charlie Company, 541st Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Inf. Div. Sustainment Brigade, was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for volunteering with Mission 22 and the Junction City, Kansas Legion Post 45. He helped Mission 22 coordinate, plan and run events such as the Mission 22 memorial dedication for fallen service members, poker runs, and dinner fundraisers.
“Volunteering brings me the gratification of helping others,” said Wright. “It’s selfless service, and goes along with all of the Army’s values.”
The Jay, Okla., native said his desire to give back to the community through hundreds of volunteer service hours set him apart as a positive example for his peers and junior enlisted Soldiers to follow.
“I personally volunteer for awareness in the community, and to help bring the community and the veterans to be on line with each other,” said Wright. “It’s an honor to be that person out there volunteering, and it’s our duty as noncommissioned officers to lead from the front and be out there in the community showing our Soldiers what right looks like.”
Each award recipient was selected and nominated by their respective 1st Inf. Div. brigade command teams or organization leaders.
Awardees included Kristin Ehernman, Valerie Keith, Gemma Kellogg, Elizabeth Lane, 1st Lt. Victoria Brown, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Bauer, Sgt. Ralph Monis, and Spc. Yolanda Steel - nominated by the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team; Hitomi Carrington, Shaude Cook, Anna Seamands, Breanna Fagerland, 1st Lt. Sharron Taylor, and Sgt. Michael Paradiso - nominated by the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team; Kerry Brant; Juliana Tabon; Kara Wunker, CW3 Emily Lynch; 1st Sgt. Dennis Frazee, Spc. Angela Miranda, and the Guyette Family (Lisamarie, Joseph, Angelina, and Isabella) - nominated by the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade; Amber Caraballo, Staff Sgt. Phillip Wright, Sgt. Timothy Summers, and Sgt. Mary Singleton - nominated by the 1st Inf. Div. Sust. Bde.; CW4 Michael Furlow and Sgt. Brian Hart - nominated by the 1st Inf. Div. Artillery; Spc. Ashton VanDyke - nominated by the 97th Military Police Battalion; Alexis Anderson and Victoria Rios-Furlow - nominated by the Religious Support Office; and Denise Reed-Davenport - nominated by the United Service Organization.
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2023 18:48 |
| Story ID: | 441531 |
| Location: | KS, US |
| Web Views: | 100 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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