Fort Wainwright recognizes volunteers with ceremony

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) - Volunteers were recognized by Fort Wainwright Wednesday, highlighting those considered to be “incredible individuals who give their time, energy, and heart to make our community stronger,” according to a Facebook post from the installation.

There were 84 people honored at the ceremony, including citizens, spouses, and soldiers.

“Being out of like the lower 48 where there’s not a lot of family or, you know, friends that you’re used to growing up with, you have this small community like here, for example, at Fort Wainwright that you can come together, find friendship, unity, things that are in common support one another throughout so volunteering is very important,” said Sarah Piper, one of the volunteers recognized at the ceremony.

While many of the recognized volunteers come from out of town, General Thomas Burke said, “It speaks to the Fairbanks community.”

“People recognize when they come up here is how open, how welcoming the Fairbanks community is,” he explained. “When you come into a community like Fairbanks, that opens its arms to the military community, it’s not surprising that the military community wants to open its arms back to the community as well.”

All of these volunteers were recognized for volunteering at least 75 hours of their time. Six of those volunteers received extra honors for going above and beyond.

Two service members were honored with the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. That honor went to both Pfc. Angel Yamasqui and Sgt. Christopher Harrell. Both of these men provided over 300 hours of their personal time volunteering in the community during the last year.

The other four volunteers each received a Volunteer of the Year award in different categories. They included: Alyssa Hansen, who was honored as the youth volunteer of the year, Scott MacDonald as retiree volunteer of the year, Yamasqui was also honored as the active duty volunteer of the year, and Sarah Piper was honored as the family member volunteer of the year, and was also honored at the Military Appreciation Banquet in April.

Many of the volunteers who were recognized included service members as well.

“I think it speaks to the really to the sense of commitment that those who put on the uniform show every day,” Burke said. “What’s really interesting is our volunteers, they’re not looking for this recognition, that’s not why they do it. They do it because they’re passionate about helping others.”

However, the recognition was still appreciated.

“It’s always needed, no matter on what level that there is just to show anybody that, hey, I see you. You’re doing a great job,” Piper said. “I think that’s very important for morale.”

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