Page 46 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2016

KEESLER AFB assisting others COMMUNITYSERVICE
Keesler Air Force Base volunteerism touches lives and communities
story by Brian Lamar,
81st Training Wing Public Affairs photos courtesy of KAFB
From bands of Airmen scouring the Biloxi beaches picking up trash, to sharp-suited Airmen displaying the nation’s colors before the local Shuckers game, Keesler Airmen are seen throughout the community serving on and off the clock.
“For the short time we’re here, we embrace this community and it embraces us,” said Chief Master Sgt. Harry Hutchinson, 81st Training Wing command chief. “We aren’t just a base on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; we’re a part of the community. We not only work here; we live here, shop, dine and play here.”
One of the most notable ways Keesler Airmen interact with South Mississippi is through volunteerism.
The Air Force recognizes those who go above and beyond the call of duty to continually improve their surroundings through giving their free time for others.
“Our volunteerism program on base gives Airmen a way to practice the Air Force’s core value of service before self,” said Ernesto Alvendia, the Keesler volunteer program coordinator. “Last year Keesler Airmen donated more than 281,000 man hours to civic organizations in the community. It equates to more than $6 million in revenue saved by charitable organizations.”
The hundreds of thousands of hours donated only represent actual documented hours. There are many other ways individual Airmen give that never go noticed publicly. One example is Tech. Sgt. Brian Margavich, 2nd Air Force network operations NCO in charge, who decided in 2000 that he would like to learn the history and give tours of the Biloxi Lighthouse
on Highway 90. “I went to the city officials and told them I would like to have a tour. They told me they didn’t have the man power to keep it open for tours.
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