CLAY KASERNE, Germany – When Sgt. Kevin Dunnaway envisioned his farewell, he didn't picture a polished conference room but instead chose the place that over the last three years had become genuinely dear to his heart: the recycling center on the Lucius D. Clay Kaserne.
Dunnaway, a broadcast specialist with American Forces Network Europe, spent his time in Germany producing creative media content, hosting radio shows, shooting photography, and championing sustainability.
His unconventional choice of venue for his farewell was a reflection of who he is.
"I chose the recycling center because I wanted something different, something interesting that most people don't do," explained Dunnaway.
Dunnaway also emphasized the practical benefits the facility provides to Soldiers and families. The recycling center features a reuse center where departing community members can donate still-usable items before a PCS, allowing others to repurpose them and reduce waste in the process.
"It's like a thrift shop, but it's free. The reuse center makes it super easy for people to reduce waste and fill their house with all the goods of consumerism without paying all their hard-earned money," said Dunnaway.
During the ceremony, Dunnaway was presented with the Joint Service Achievement Medal for his outstanding service as a broadcast journalist and content creator. But the recognition that resonated most came from the words of his fellow Soldiers, who spoke not only to his professional talent, but to his genuine love for the Wiesbaden community.
"Sometimes I'd come in just to handle some errands on the weekends, and I'd see him literally going into the bins and taking stuff out of the trash that should be in the recycling and putting it over in the recycling,” said Sgt.
Benjamin Percy, radio team lead at AFN. “So what he may not always be able to put into words super well, you can see just in his actions how much he cares about the Wiesbaden community. He is just a fantastic person."
Now headed to Mississippi for his next chapter, Dunnaway leaves behind a legacy of creativity, environmental stewardship, and a farewell ceremony no one is likely to forget.
"I thought it was funny, and I wasn't really surprised. After working with him for so long, you get to know someone,” said Percy. “It definitely caught me off guard at first, but I think it was very fitting for it to be here [at the recycling center]. I think he made a good choice."