MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. – Marines every day volunteer for assignments that take them far from home, for working parties that have them working outside their normal jobs, and for their local community to help others in need.
For actions such as some of these, Cherry Point named Lance Cpl. Brian S. Meaker, the station’s third Service Person of the Quarter for 2010. Recently, the Carteret County Military Affairs Committee honored Meaker at the Elks Lodge in Morehead City, N.C., for his contribution to the community.
“I just go into work and do what I do,” Meaker said modestly in regards to being named Marine of the Quarter. “This time it just worked out,” added the fixed-wing airframe mechanic with Marine Transport Squadron 1.
Meaker got to the air station about a year ago and soon after was assigned to head his squadron’s Single Marine Program, which has given him several opportunities to contribute to the community.
“He’s been instrumental in revitalizing the Single Marine Program for our squadron,” said Sgt. Wesley R. Rhoades, airframes noncommissioned officer-in-charge for VMR-1. “He’s making it possible for other Marines to contribute the way he has.”
One result of Meaker’s initiative was a SMP trip to Columbia, N.C., where Marines spent time with children of deployed service members and helped them understand what their parents do.
“Doing that thing for the kids in Columbia really stuck out,” Meaker explained. “Those kids had never met us before, but a lot of them came up afterward and were ecstatic to have talked to a real-life Marine. One of them even came up to me and gave me a hug.”
Meaker said his sister got him into volunteering when he got out of high school, and he’s been doing it ever since.
“I’ve been in the position before where I could really use a hand, and if somebody really needs help, you’ve got to ask yourself if you can give it up,” Meaker said. “That’s what volunteer work is all about to me.”
When Meaker received his award, members of Carteret County MAC showed their gratitude by giving Meaker a gift bag and a certificate. Some of Meakers’s leadership were in attendance as well and said the squadron appreciates his efforts and all he’s done for the Marines of VMR-1.
“This award doesn’t just reflect well on Meaker,” said Rhoades. “It represents our entire squadron.”
Meaker explained when he’s working on the HH-46E Sea Knights as an airframe mechanic he has a lot of responsibility, but when he gets to do volunteer work he feels it’s less like a duty and more like he’s amplifying what Marines do, help people.