Tyndall awards volunteers, commends community service

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Numerous members of Tyndall's military community were recognized for their voluntary service on and off base at the annual Volunteer Recognition ceremony Monday, when three volunteers were given top honors. 

Tech. Sgt. Esther Whitcomb, a reservist at the 601st Air Operations Center, took top honors, being awarded the 2007 Presidents Volunteer Service Award. Tech. Sgt. Cameron Guilliams, instructor at the Airey NCO Academy, won volunteer of the year, in the military category, while Donna Desporte, an Airman's Attic volunteer, won for the civilian category. 

"You will rarely find a volunteer seeking recognition, but National Volunteer Week allows the community to say a collective 'thank you,'" said Catherine Tarrant, Airman and Family Readiness Flight community readiness consultant. "Volunteers give freely of their gifts, time and talents to make the community a better place. National Volunteer Week, held April 15-21, was an opportunity for Team Tyndall to show their appreciation to our volunteers for their unselfish dedication and service to our community." 

The theme for National Volunteer Week is "Inspire by Example" because they inspire us and our leaders to give our best wherever we may serve, she said. 

Anytime Sergeant Whitcomb served at the Southeast Air Defense Sector, coworkers would notice her outgoing personality and witness a boost in morale. 

"She will do anything," said Master Sgt. Richard Frantz, who supervised Sergeant Whitcomb while she was on active duty status at SEADS from September 2003 to September 2006. "She is a great person who will do anything to help people in the unit." 

As Sergeant Whitcomb identified aircraft over the skies of America to provide frontline air defense, she also served 3,240 hours as an active member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary by promoting safe boating and education. Additionally, she volunteered 720 hours for the Panama City American Red Cross Chapter. Her list of volunteer work dates back to 1998, showing why she was selected for the prestigious President Service Award. 

The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President's Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. 

Sergeant Guilliams encourages other volunteers to go out into the community each time he works with Airey NCOA students. They serve at a variety of opportunities like collecting donations at the base's Operation Turkey Drop, organizing help at a local animal shelter or marching in the Panama City Veterans' Day parade. The list of opportunities Sergeant Guilliams was involved in, totaling over 120 volunteer hours, includes events beyond the ones he found on the job or through the professional organizations he is a member of on Tyndall. The NCO's favorite volunteer service is anything he can do on the weekend with his family or while supporting Gulf Coast and Ironman Triathlon events. 

"They (the over 4,000 athletes) rely on us and we know we are doing something good for them," said Sergeant Guilliams. "When they thank us as they run by, they encourage us. Plus, the money we raise goes to local charities."
The good feeling volunteers get keeps them involved, and for some, that feeling lasts over three decades. 

Donna Desporte has devoted 37 years of service here and this past year she volunteered 230 hours to the Airman's Attic, providing 200 families with household necessities. When she is not on base she is downtown involved in a variety of organizations to include the Ladies Auxiliary with whom she volunteered 1,160 hours at Bay Medical Center. 

"The reason I do it is because I enjoy it," said Ms. Desporte whose experience with the military comes from being a spouse, a mother and a grandmother of military members. "I get to meet people and hear so many stories of where they've been and what they are going through. I make new friends that way." 

Other people making friends through volunteering were also recognized at the annual ceremony. 

Volunteer Excellence Awards were given to Jim Hill who volunteers at the base library, Brigid Johnson who spends her spare time at the base pharmacy and Tracy Lake who helps run the base Thrift Shop, which is managed by the Officers' Spouse Club she is an active member of. 

To qualify for awards, nominees reported their volunteer hours to the Family Support Center throughout the year and had a nomination package submitted to the center. Winners were chosen based on the quantity of hours they give outside their duty as a volunteer. 

Each person behind the many awards given at the base volunteer recognition ceremony had a story as great as the ones who received the top three awards, showing Tyndall's partnership with its community. 

For more information on volunteer opportunities and awards, contact Ms. Tarrant at 283-4204.