Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"April 26, 2002
Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"
April
26, 2002
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| Participants at Tuesday’s Volunteer Recognition Ceremony stand at attention to sing the "Star Spangled Banner." The academy chose to honor its volunteers during the nationwide Volunteer Recognition Week that began Sunday. |
The annual nationwide Volunteer Recognition Week started Sunday and the U.S. Military Academy honored its volunteers Tuesday with a luncheon at the West Point Club here.
West Point volunteer coordinator, Sharon Kane said her job is very rewarding.
"I have the best job here at West Point," she said. "I get to work with all the wonderful people who volunteer here."
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| Staff Sgt. Laura Bradley, a member of the U.S. Military Academy Band, sings "America The Beautiful." |
Kane thanked all of the volunteers for their service and took a moment to share her feelings on how the community rallied following the Sept. 11 tragedy.
"As I reflect back on 9/11, all of us were touched by these events," Kane said. "But within the next couple of days, I was witness to all of the wonderful outpouring of the volunteer spirit at West Point.
"It was hard for all of us to work or go to school at that time, to make sense of what had happened. But I would go to work and be filled with hope because the phone would ring and people everywhere were asking what can they do," she added.
Kane said she was particularly touched by the Corps resolve to help.
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| West Point’s Installation Volunteer Coordinator, Sharon Kane (right) sits with her husband, Bicentennial Office Director, Col. Pat Kane and listens to the superintendent’s speech. |
"Cadets donated thousands of dollars and gave blood and some volunteers joined the workers at ground zero," she said.
Kane got some laughs from the attendees when she remarked on her husband’s volunteer service.
"My husband (Col. Pat Kane of the Bicentennial Office) has no choice but to volunteer since he’s married to the Volunteer Coordinator," she said with a smile.
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| Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox Jr. (left) prepares to receive a simulated check representing the value of the total time donated from volunteers. The two presenters, Chuck Shroedel and Joanne Clarke, have donated more than 1,000 hours of time. |
USMA Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Lennox was on hand to address the volunteers. His wife Ann is an active volunteer for the West Point Women’s Club and other activities. Lennox told the gathering that the installation wouldn’t be able to function without its volunteers.
"It has been said before that volunteers don’t necessarily have the time, they just have the heart. There is a lot to be said for that," Lennox said. "The amenities of this post are provided by the volunteers and wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers. The effort and work that goes on at West Point just cannot be beat."
Volunteers Joanne Clarke and Chuck Schroedel presented Lennox with a "check" for $2,562,402, which represents the amount that would have had to be paid for the 238,363 hours worked by the volunteers.
"If we had to pay for that, we couldn’t do it," Lennox said, when presented with the check.
"We would be busted."
