CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Two Team Charleston Airmen were recognized by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce for their community service during the 2008 Armed Forces Dinner held recently in Charleston.
Tech. Sgt. Nina Murphy, 437th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of force management, and Master Sgt. Connie Danbury, 701st Airlift Squadron aviation resource management superintendent, were chosen as active-duty and Reserve Airmen of the year for their service to the local community.
The Chamber of Commerce also recognized Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard members, Department of Defense civilian employee and a civilian business person in the local area for their community service.
During the past year, Sergeant Murphy has been active in helping the local community where it was needed, mostly with the children of the Lowcountry.
The sergeant likes to volunteer to help children because "they are the most impressionable," she said.
To help Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets learn more about military customs, Sergeant Murphy was an evaluator at the annual drill competition for high school-aged students at the Citadel Military College of South Carolina. Because she spent this time with the cadets, she not only taught them about military customs, she also mentored them on the opportunities of the U.S. Military, she said.
"They may not see the Air Force [standards], but they see success and opportunities they might not see on a daily basis," Sergeant Murphy said. "They see someone who actually cares and is willing to sacrifice themselves to help point them in the right direction."
Her willingness to help and her recognition by the Chamber of Commerce was also highlighted by her supervisor.
"Sergeant Murphy's commitment to volunteerism is critical for community relations between Charleston AFB and the surrounding area," said Capt. Lori Tisdale, 437 FSS military personnel element chief. "The Chamber of Commerce selecting her as Volunteer of the Year is a testament of her value to both the Air Force and the outlying community."
For Sergeant Danbury, her life-long passion to help others has been with her since she was in the sixth grade when she helped raise money for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association.
"I have had always had a desire to help those who are not as fortunate as myself or others," Sergeant Danbury said.
One of the ways she was able to help those in need occurred during Christmas. She, along with members of her squadron, coordinated with the local Angel Tree Organization to provide a Christmas celebration for a single mom with two young daughters.
Through her efforts and coordinating with other members of her squadron, she was able to provide the family not only gifts for Christmas but furniture and curtains for their new house.
"Because we are able to, the entire squadron was able to give these children a Christmas," she said. "It is just an awesome feeling having done this for a single mom and her children.
"We over indulged. The children only asked for three toys each, but they got more than what they asked for. I just wish I could have been there to see their eyes on Christmas morning when they saw their gifts."