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Vanguard volunteers honored for service
Seven give hundreds of hours to soldiers, family members
0406 Vanguard volunteers
Erin Konz, Jeff Still, Consuelo Ligus, Calantha Pajela, Jennifer Manis, Julie Wertz and Paula Robinson, volunteers for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, assemble March 28 in the Fort Stewart Museum to be recognized for amassing a combined total of more than 700 service hours to soldiers and their family members. - photo by Photo by Sgt. Mary S. Katzenberger

Seven volunteers from the “Vanguard” brigade formally were recognized March 28 at the Fort Stewart Museum for their more than 700 hours of combined service to soldiers and family members.
Traci Wheeler, the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Family Readiness Support Assistant, said one volunteer from each battalion — including a volunteer from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th IBCT — was chosen above his or her peers to be honored at the first of what is slated to become a quarterly, brigade volunteer recognition ceremony.
4th IBCT Commander Col. Kimo Gallahue presided over the event.
“I’m happy and proud to be here to recognize these great volunteers,” Gallahue said. “They’ve done tremendous things for their soldiers and for their soldiers’ units.”
Gallahue presented certificates to Paula Robinson, Julie Wertz, Jennifer Manis, Calantha Pajela, Consuelo Ligus, Jeff Still and Erin Konz. Each of the family members has volunteered either with their family readiness groups or within the Fort Stewart community.
“The volunteers at 4th Brigade are great,” Wheeler said after the ceremony. “I love them because any time we have an event, they’re always the first ones to show up [and] get other people to participate. We don’t always see it; sometimes they’re helping out those families one-on-one. They don’t come out for the recognition; they come out just to help the families.”

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Exchange Service salutes Vietnam vets with custom truck design
Army and Air Force Exchange Service redesigned logo 2011

To thank Vietnam veterans for their sacrifices, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is debuting a new truck design, part of the Department of Defense retailer’s efforts alongside the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to honor veterans during the 50th anniversary of the war.

“The Exchange is privileged to have the opportunity to recognize Vietnam veterans through our fleet,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era. “These trucks will serve as rolling billboards, expressing gratitude for all who served during this era.”

The truck design features the silhouette of a lone service member set against the background of a faded horizon with a call to “thank a Vietnam veteran for service to our nation.” The single military member represents the warfighters who served during this time.

Three trucks in the fleet feature the commemorative design and will deliver merchandise to Exchange stores from the organization’s distribution centers in the continental United States.

The West Coast Distribution Center at Sharpe Army Depot in California; Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va.; and the Waco Distribution Center in Texas will each have a truck in service on their standard delivery routes, serving the whole country.

Air Force veteran Pat Thompson served in Vietnam before coming to the Exchange as a truck driver and mechanic. In his 18 years with the Exchange, he has deployed four times to support the troops. The new design means a lot to him.

“They remember,” said Thompson, who is based at the Exchange’s Waco Distribution Center. “We want to be remembered.”

The trucks also highlight the veteran online shopping benefit, which launched in November. The lifelong online military exchange benefit authorizes all who served honorably to enjoy tax-free shopping and exclusive military pricing at ShopMyExchange.com.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a program administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. began commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary in 2012 and will continue through Veterans Day 2025.

The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize Vietnam veterans and their families for service, valor and sacrifice in conjunction with the commemoration.

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