Laughlin honors volunteers

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joel Langton
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Laughlin's leadership recognized more than 200 volunteers who donated 12, 818 hours of their personal time with an ice cream social at Club XL May 20. 

Mrs. Landy Butters and Mr. Kenneth Miller were awarded the Volunteer Excellence Award. The award recognizes volunteer service of a sustained and direct nature, meaning it must be significant in character, produce tangible results and reflect favorably on the Air Force. 

Mrs. Butters made an impact in several arenas, including the Officers Spouses' Club, the Thrift Shop renovation and was a key player in the wing's dining out. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Miller's contribution was more focused in nature, as he focused on Laughlin's sick by volunteering at the pharmacy. 

"I volunteer at the pharmacy to help those people who stand in when they felt sick and just want to go home so they can start feeling better," said Mr. Miller. "I knew I could make a difference by helping at the pharmacy and helping people get home and start feeling better." 

Mr. Miller, a retired master sergeant, said he learned to volunteer during his 26 years, 9 months and 23 days on active duty. "At times you need help, at times you can give help, so you just learn to help each other out, it's kind of the military way," he said. 

Col. David Ellis, 47th Flying Training Wing vice commander, said volunteering was more than the military way, but the human way. "The lesson here today is you gain by giving," he said. "Volunteering transforms souls. We couldn't succeed or excel in the 47th Flying Training Wing without the contributions of our volunteers."