Brussels volunteers recognized for their service

U.S. Army Garrison Benelux volunteers were honored May 16 during the annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony held in Brussels, Belgium.

Volunteers spent time serving the community in activities such as child and youth events, family readiness groups and community recreation events. “As Martin Luther King said, life’s most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others,” said Lt. Gen. John K. Love, United States Military Representative to NATO.  

Love thanked all volunteers for what they do day in and day out. “Not because you have to, not because you have been ordered to, but because it’s what you want to do,” he added.
The winners of the 2019 Volunteers of the Year were divided into seven categories.

Service Member Volunteer of the Year: Master Sgt. Monique Singleton. Singleton is a member of the NATO Joint Top 3. She coaches basketball for children and youth services, and is a Girls Scouts Den Leader. She selfessly serves the Brussels Community by coordinating events to raise money to fund community activities.

Tender Heart Volunteer of the Year: Sarah Steele. She volunteers for Cubscout Pack 457, and is a Sunday School Teacher for St. Anthony’s Parish. She always arrives early for cub scout events to prepare, set-up and greet.

Youth Volunteer of the Year: Kailani Villa. She is the Junior Class President for the Brussels American School, she volunteers for the NATO Joint Top 3, Children and Youth Services, NATO Bazaar, Keystone Youth Club and MWR.  She volunteered with organizations for 10 community events, which raised over $4000

Organization Volunteer of the Year: NATO Joint Top 3. The NATO Joint Top 3 Association hosts, sponsors, and participates in countless community events, fundraisers, and provides support, sponsorship, funding, food, gifts, and prizes for various community and holidays celebrations; lunches, dinners, and ceremonies. 

Family Volunteer of the year (a tie): The Finch family and the Villa family. One of the Family Volunteer of the Year award recipients is the Finch family. Bill and Lauren Finch volunteer with Cubscout Pack 457 and Troop 457. Lauren leads the Tiger cubs, with most scouts having been in her Lion den the previous years, and Bill plays a vital role as he led the Webelos Arrow of light den for girls through to their crossover to the Boy Scouts.
The other Family Volunteer of the Year award recipient is the Villa family. Senior Master Sgt. Villa is the Children and Youth Services and MWR sports official trainer, the DoDEA High School Volleyball Commissioner, Basketball Official, Scorekeeper, and US Post Office holiday season volunteer. Kailani Villa represents the youth in the Brussels community and is the active voice for their concerns and well-being.

Deputy Garrison Manager Award: Sharon Kitchener. She is the NATO Charity Bazaar President. She worked with NATO staff members to coordinate the booth for the United States.  She coordinated monthly meetings, solicited volunteers, worked with vendors, and more.

Overall Volunteer of the Year (a tie): One of the winners is Sgt. First class Leann Lichtenstein, a key member of the Brussels community who coordinated numerous activities for the scouts and many other fundraisers, community and charity events to fund programs and community activities. Senior Master Sgt. Alexander Villa, who served a thousand hours, is the other winner.
Between April 2018 and March 2019, volunteers have served a total of 61,925 hours. There will be another ceremony in Schinnen on June 6.

Discover all the photos of the event on Flickr

Christophe Morel, USAG Benelux Public Affairs