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Presidential volunteer award winners

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brian Butkus
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  As servicemembers in the United States Air Force, one of the Core Values is “Excellence in All We Do”. Tech. Sgt. Geofrey Bambic and Dawn Maier of the 375th Medical Group exemplify this by earning the President’s Volunteer Service Award. 

Sergeant Bambic and Ms. Maier earned this award at the gold level for dedicating over 2,000 hours of volunteer service as officers in the Scott Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Council. 

The award is given to individuals, families or groups that have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service and civic participation.
 
“When we won the award, neither of us even knew we were nominated,” said Ms. Maier. “We do what we do because we love it and feel it’s our duty to honor those who sacrificed so much for us.” 

Sergeant Bambic co-founded the council in the late 1980s. When asked why he helped to found the council, Sergeant Bambic recalled an experience he had as a young Airmen in basic training. 

“One day, I noticed an active-duty member wearing a shiny bracelet and asked him what it meant,” said Sergeant Bambic. “The man replied back to me that it was a POW/MIA bracelet and it had a named etched into it recognizing someone who hadn’t returned home from their duty.
 
“As a person fresh out of high school, I had to admit I was a little ashamed at not knowing what the bracelet symbolized and decided that others probably didn’t know what it truly represented.” 

After this incident, Sergeant Bambic and a friend decided to create the POW/MIA council here and he has been an officer ever since. 

While working together at the 375th MDG Sergeant Bambic and Ms. Maier became friends and he eventually asked her to help him out with some administrative work for the council. 

“I agreed to help Sergeant Bambic, and went into it anticipating a one-time deal,” said Ms. Maier. “As time went on, I became more and more interested in what the council did and shortly there after became a true member.” 

As officers in the council, Sergeant Bambic and Ms. Maier have organized numerous activities to help educate the public about POW/MIA issues. 

“We set up booths at local events, speak to various civic organizations, sell POW/MIA merchandise and co-host the annual POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony here,” said Sergeant Bambic. 

Proceeds made through their different fundraisers are used to provide free meals to 300 to 400 former POW’s and donations to several local veterans’ hospitals and organizations. 

“We can truly say that we enjoy what we do and look forward to continuing this great program,” said Sergeant Bambic and Ms. Maier. “We would also like to encourage everyone to come out and join us to show their admiration for those who have served.”