445th Airlift Wing receives Community Builders award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Santana Austin
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The New Carlisle Lodge #100 of Free and Accepted Masons honored the 445th Airlift Wing with this year's Community Builder Award at The New Carlisle Masonic Temple May 19.

Col. Stephen Goeman, 445th AW commander, received the award on behalf of the wing from Jeffery Pickett, New Carlisle Lodge senior officer.

"I feel honored to accept the Community Builders Award on behalf of all the men and women of the 445th," said Colonel Goeman. "They're great people doing great things and I hope to see more accomplishments from them in the future."

Various individuals have received this kind of recognition over the past 12 years for their outstanding service to a community, but it is the first year for the Wright Wing to be held in high esteem for their efforts.

"It's absolutely astounding just how much the 445th Airlift Wing has given to their community, as well as multiple other communities around the globe," Mr. Pickett said.

Wright Wing men and women have proven themselves worthy of this accolade through various volunteer activities and functions. They have helped donate to Toys for Tots, raised money to buy toiletry items for the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center and served meals to the residents staying at the facility, and have also assisted in humanitarian medical missions in Guatemala and Haiti.

"This award doesn't do enough justice to all the great things the Wing has done for others," Mr. Pickett said.

The Wing has also been previously recognized for their efforts with the Maj. Gen. Joseph A. McNeil Award, the Raincross Trophy and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

"Normally this award is given to an individual, but this year the Lodge committee board and I decided there's no better organization to present this award to than the 445th Airlift Wing," Mr. Pickett said.