Team Edwards honors those who go the extra mile

  • Published
  • By Rebecca Amber
  • Staff writer
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony held April 28 shed light on how much the base depends on volunteerism. Many of the 358 identified volunteers gathered at the Airman and Family Readiness Center to receive certificates of appreciation presented by Alexander Kovras, 412th Force Support Squadron director.

There are 33 different organizations on base that rely on volunteers including the 412th Medical Group, youth sports, the chapel, the Airman and Family Readiness Center, APET and the Airman's Attic.

"The nation is counting on Edwards to deliver the best possible weapons to the warfighter and we can't do that without our volunteers," said Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander. "Edwards is counting on our volunteers to support our men and women in uniform, to support all the organizations you support, to support the children that are here on base so that we can do our job."

Each year at the ceremony, one individual is presented with the Volunteer Excellence Award for long-term volunteerism that has positively impacted military installations or their surrounding communities. Unlike the quarterly and annual volunteer service awards, the Volunteer Excellence award can only be received once in a lifetime.

This year's recipient, Beth Boone, works at the Edwards Federal Credit Union. She has given 4,642 hours of service to the Edwards community. In the last 13 years, she knitted over 245 personalized receiving blankets for new and expectant parents through the Air Force Aid Society's Bundles for Babies program.

She has mentored new moms and served as treasurer at her church. She also has helped with the Desert High Scorpion Robotics team and taken on jobs at the school like running the snack bar at sporting events.

Boone was even a vital part of getting the Boron football team nationally recognized as visitors to this year's NFL Super Bowl.

She has also built her own individual ministries coaching and mentoring young men and women and has organized numerous clothing drives to support homeless and needy families. 

Boone continually dedicates her time to serving others. Even as she waited for the awards ceremony to begin, Boone worked on a new blanket.

According to Schaefer, volunteerism fuels the nation's growth and supports national security. As the test wing commander, he thanks the volunteers who guided and mentored him as young man for shaping him into who he is today.

"I am a product of volunteerism. I was a Boy Scout...The things that I learned in Boy Scouts, the leadership lessons, put me where I am here today," he shared. "You make Edwards a better place to work and live."