Seven volunteers from the “Vanguard” brigade formally were recognized March 28 at the Fort Stewart Museum for their more than 700 hours of combined service to soldiers and family members.
Traci Wheeler, the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Family Readiness Support Assistant, said one volunteer from each battalion — including a volunteer from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th IBCT — was chosen above his or her peers to be honored at the first of what is slated to become a quarterly, brigade volunteer recognition ceremony.
4th IBCT Commander Col. Kimo Gallahue presided over the event.
“I’m happy and proud to be here to recognize these great volunteers,” Gallahue said. “They’ve done tremendous things for their soldiers and for their soldiers’ units.”
Gallahue presented certificates to Paula Robinson, Julie Wertz, Jennifer Manis, Calantha Pajela, Consuelo Ligus, Jeff Still and Erin Konz. Each of the family members has volunteered either with their family readiness groups or within the Fort Stewart community.
“The volunteers at 4th Brigade are great,” Wheeler said after the ceremony. “I love them because any time we have an event, they’re always the first ones to show up [and] get other people to participate. We don’t always see it; sometimes they’re helping out those families one-on-one. They don’t come out for the recognition; they come out just to help the families.”