Community Award – Godby ROTC
 

By: Tom Perkins

Each year, the Community Award is given to an organization or individual who, over a period of years, has supported running in the community at large. Tonight we will honor both an individual and a group with this award.

The mission statement of this group is "Building better citizens for America." The goal is to educate and train young people in citizenship, to instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline, and to promote community service. The young people who participate in this group have opportunities for leadership training, life skills education, team-building, character education, and excellence in everything they do.

Leading this group is a man whose background is exemplary. He enlisted in the Air Force in the 1960's and began as a fuel specialist. Now, as a Senior Master Sergeant or E-8, he is one of only 5% of the military enlisted members who have achieved that level of promotion. He has worked in his current position since 1993---a position in which he teaches and guides young people toward standards of excellence on a daily basis.

As a race director, I have many things to worry about, from the weather to the safety of the course to the number of volunteers who will hopefully show up. As every race director knows, a successful event depends heavily on the volunteers. For years, I have relied on this group of volunteers and their fearless leader to assist me and other race directors with traffic control and other tasks. And we never have to worry about whether or not they will show up! In this year alone, the Master Sergeant and his charges will complete over 1,000 hours of community service, many of them at our local races.

It is timely that we present this award now, because the Master Sergeant will retire this year after 17 years of service as the leader of the Air Force Junior ROTC at Godby High School. We would like to express our thanks to the cadets in the Godby High School ROTC for their continued assistance with our road races, with a special thanks to the man who taught them the importance of community service.

Join me in presenting the Community Award to:

Senior Master Sergeant Steve Sullivan and the Godby High School Air Force Junior ROTC.