CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
It's been almost two weeks since I announced my resignation as the Airmen's Center's lead volunteer. As I cleaned out my inbox, trying to tie up some loose ends before saying my final farewell, I received an e-mail from Chief Master Sgt. Melvin Willis. It read: "Thank you again so very much for all you have done for our Airmen. There is no way we can ever repay your kindness."
While the e-mail was short, the message was powerful and I was immediately moved to tears. While many people know the power these words hold, most people, including myself, don't use them often enough. In honor of National Volunteer Week, I want to say "thank you" to all the people who helped keep the Airmen's Center running.
I would like to thank Senior Airman Spencer Stacey, 17th Airlift Squadron, Airman Zachary Hoover, 437 Maintenance Squadron, Senior Airman Casey Love, 437 Civil Engineer Squadron, Airman 1st Class Shawn Boyd, 437 MXS, and Tech. Sgt Avanti Borucki, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, for donating their free time to help keep the Airmen's Center open.
Also, I'd like to thank Tech. Sgt Nina Murphy, 437th Airlift Wing, Staff Sgt. Natalie Walker, 437 Communications Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Desirae Wiseman, 437 CS, for their help decorating for our Valentine's Day party.
A special thanks goes out to the following Team Charleston members:
· To Mrs. Georgeann Fortune for the creative Jack-o-Lantern cake you made for our Halloween party. It was almost too pretty to eat!
· To Master Sgt. Ethelwoldo Gonzalez, 15th Airlift Squadron, for his generous donations towards our Thanksgiving and Christmas Day feasts.
· To Master Sgt. Scot Borgerding, 437 CS, for hosting our first annual Charleston Idol competition.
· To Tech. Sgt. Jens Walle, 437 CES, for taking time away from his family on Thanksgiving Day to fry and serve a delicious turkey for our Airmen.
· To the Top 3 for providing a pool of volunteers to run the center on a weekly basis.
· Airman 1st Class Marcus Gohm, 437th Maintenance Operations Squadron, for stepping up to the plate and assuming the responsibility of lead volunteer. Your energy is limitless and I see great things happening at the Airmen's Center under your care.
· Last, but not least, I want to thank my assistant lead volunteer, Senior Airman Jessica Rodulfo, 437th Logistic Readiness Squadron, for single-handedly volunteering more than 600 hours last year. Your dedication to the Airmen's Center is inspiring and has not gone unnoticed.
There are many more people I would like to thank whose names I did not mention, but please know your contributions, no matter how small, were sincerely appreciated.
There's an African proverb that states "it takes a village to raise a child." Well, I believe it took an Air Force base to run this center. So on behalf of the patrons of the Airmen's Center, I want to say "Thank you, Team Charleston!"
Those interested in volunteering at the Airmen's Center can contact Airman Gohm at 963-3864.