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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES 7 May 7, 2009 Hill's top volunteer gets recognition STAFF SGT. KYLE BRASIER/U.S. Air Force Timothy Dolan (center), of the 572nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, poses with the Volunteer of the Year award he received at a breakfast reception held to honor Hill Air Force Base volunteers April 30 as Mark Johnson (left), executive director of the Ogden Air Logistics Center, and Lorrie Perkins, 75th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center chief of programs, stand beside him, HiltrudeWilmot accepts the Honorary Volunteer Award on behalf of her husband, Chief Master Sgt. (ret.) George H. Wilmot who gave several decades of service as a volunteer. He died this past year. Other volunteers recognized for efforts BY LEE ANNE HENSLEY Hilltop Times staff T he Airman and Family Readiness Center hosted the Annual Volunteer Recognition Breakfast Reception on April 30 to distinguish a few of the many volunteers that keep Hill Air Force Base running. • • Of the seven volunteers nominated to receive the Volunteer Excellence Award for dedicating more than 100,000 hours during 2008, one member of Team Hill stood out above the rest to receive the recognition award. Timothy Dolan, of the 572nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, worked tirelessly throughout the year to increase awareness and respect for military veterans of foreign wars. Dolan is president of the Gold Star Family organization and raised funds .for the Operation Never Forget foundation. He also helped establish a memorial wall at the Clearfield American Legion to honor the prisoners ;bf war and fallen heroes from World : War I until the present day. The wall, Which was recently unveiled April 18, .is made of black acrylic with an etch;ing of each soldier's name, including 'Dolan's own son, Daniel Dolan, who ;was killed in Iraq on Aug. 27, 2006. :This personal connection has also fueled other efforts as well. Dolan has helped Bob Lehmiller, the father of Michael Lehmiller who was killed in action four years ago in Afghanistan, with other projects .sponsored by Lehmiller's nonprofit foundation, Mike's Guardian Eagle Foundation, in dedication to his son. if We do everything together to make sure ours and everyone else's sons are not forgotten," Dolan said. Their next project will be showcasing a "healing field" at the Weber County FairgroundsA_vyhich will_be a display of approximately 5,000 American flags, placed in-the shape of the.. United States, that represent each soldier killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The display will run from July 23 to Aug. 3 with many events planned throughout that time. 'There will be a concert, an F-16 fly-over and the American Veteran's Traveling Tribute — a traveling veteran's memorial wall, an 80-percent scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, will be there as well," Dolan said. After Aug. 3, each flag will be sent to its sponsor. Dolan says the proceeds of the event will go to veteran charities such as the Patriot Guard Riders and Operation Never Forget. "Mr. Dolan's work with the community as well as the military and families of fallen soldiers are the biggest reasons why he was selected for the Volunteer Excellence Award out of so many other great people," said AFRC volunteer coordinator, Michael Roos. The April 30 volunteer recognition reception also honored retired Chief Master Sgt. George H. Wilmot with the Honorary Volunteer Award for dedicating several decades to the Retirees Activities Office at Hill AFB, his volunteer service with the Hill Aerospace Museum and actively volunteering in his community as an auxiliary policeman for Davis County, being a volunteer firefighter for Sunset City and volunteering at the Antelope Island Visitor's Center. Wilmot had also been dedicated to the Department of Defense, joining the Army in 1946, then transitioning to the Army Air Corps and, finally, the U.S. Air Force Reserves, which he retired from in 1987. He retired from Civil Service at Hill AFB in 1989. Due to his death this year, Wilmot's wife, Hiltrude, accepted the award on his behalf. "(Wilmot) was such a positive, outgoing person," recalled Wilmot's son-in-law, Master Sgt. Gary Bruce, who works with the 388th Component Maintenance Squadron. "Years ago, he literally gave the shirt off his back to a hitchhiker. That's the type of person he was." Mark Johnson, Ogden Air Logistics Center executive director and the event's guest speaker, noted that although two people were primarily recognized during the ceremony, "everyone deserves top recollection for what they do for our community." "This is a way to give a little bit back to those who give so much," he added. "It is a small token for our greatest need and we thank you all for the wonderful things you do." We can never be reminded enough that the citizens of America and our allies rely on us every day to be precise and reliable. Periodically, we encounter an Airman that did not keep his or her promise ... he or she acted irresponsibly, potentially caused concern among those who hold faith in us, caused embarrassment to fellow brothers and sisters in arms and possibly jeopardized mission excellence. As American Airmen, we must never forget those counting on us and the great war fighters that came before us as we go about our lives and service. I ask you to (1) ensure that the Core Values underpin every action at all times, (2) be committed to individual accountability, and (3) make "Excellence" the standard versus "Satisfactory." If done, the Air Force will continue to be an inspiration for all and serve as the most dominant "Air, Space, and Cyber Force" this world has known. Selective re-enlistment bonus list announced ANDOLPI^AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS — Pentagon officials .recenjjy release^ Jhe latest, selective re-enlistment bonus list which contains 82 Air Force specialties. The revised listing increased bonuses for one Air Force specialty code — contracting. Seventeen AFSCs will receive lower SRBs than previously offered and seven AFSCs were removed from the program. "Since the bonuses announced in 2008 were successful, the Air Force has seen an increase in the overall retention rates," said Michael McLaughlin, Chief of Air Force re-enlistments at the Air Force Personnel Center here. All increases and additions will be effective May 1, and all decreases and deletions will go into effect May 31. Any re-enlistments or extensions of any length that have been conducted prior to the official message release will remain valid. This release does not apply to Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard personnel. For a complete SRB listing, visit AFPC's "Ask" Web site and click on the "military" tab. After that, select "active duty enlisted," then "Reenlistments" and click on "Selective Reenlistment Bonus." For information about the SRB program, contact the re-enlistment office or career enhancement element at your local personnel flight or section. National Police Week to include parade, Base Exchange events M ay 10 -16 is being observed as National Police Week, a way to recognize law enforcement officers' role as public servants; a role that has required many to give their lives in the line of duty. As military members, the call to duty demands such self-sacrifice. For many officers and families across the nation, this week will serve as a grim reminder of loved ones who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty; it's a celebration of camaraderie and esprit-de-corps of a brotherhood in arms. President John F. Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726 on Oct. 1,1962, dedicating May 15 as National Peace Officers' Memorial Day. The week of May 15 has traditionally been known as National Police Week and many activities are held to honor our nation's law enforcement officers. In Washington, D.C., activities include a candlelight vigil, National Police Survivors' Seminars, as well as the National Peace Officers Memorial Day Service held at the U.S. Capitol West Lawn. Tb honor our fallen brothers and sisters, the 75th Security Forces Squadron is planning several events for national Police Week. Beginning on Monday, May 11, with miniature American flags placed in the median north of the South Gate, to recognize Air Police, Security Police, Security Forces members, Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents and all police officers who died while serving. Blue ribbons will be tied on Security Forces vehicles, and members will wear a single piece of black tape over their badges to honor the fallen. Under Public Law 103-322, the flag will also fly at half-staff on May 15 at all government facilities. Saturday, May 16, the 75th SFS will join forces with McGruff The Crime Dog, AFOSI and local police departments to honor fallen police officers by holding a parade, starring at 9:30 a.m. and travel through base housing along North Liberty and Liberty Way. McGruff will be throwing candy and other items as he leads the parade. The parade will conclude at the Base Exchange where the Security Forces Squadron and AFOSI will be hosting Operation I.D. a Kid, a Military Working Dog demonstration, and weapons and vehicle displays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Tech. Sgt. Tonya McHugh or Robert Polanco at 777-1231 or 777-1230. Base personnel are invited to join in the Police Week activities honoring those who risk their lives every day to keep our world safe. | |