NCO earns American Legion Spirit of Service Award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mike Meares
  • 50th Space Wing Public Affairs
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  Her father picked up a soldier carrying his life in a duffel bag on his way home from Vietnam in 1971. He gave the man a little money and took him to his house to finish his journey home. This act of kindness influenced Staff Sgt. Catherin Lammon and motivated her to do community service.

The American Legion recently announced that the sergeant, assigned to the 50th Operations Group here, will receive the 2004 American Legion Spirit of Service Award for her contributions as a community volunteer.

"Sergeant Lammon's record of achievements and selfless contributions are impressive and make her highly deserving of this award," wrote Gregory Den Herder, the Air Force Personnel Center’s executive director, in the letter to Gen. Lance Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, recognizing Sergeant Lammon for her accomplishments.

The American Legion Spirit of Service Award annually recognizes an outstanding performer from each branch of the armed forces for his or her volunteer off-duty service to the local community.

"I looked up to my father a lot growing up," Sergeant Lammon said. "He was always volunteering or doing something in the community. If it wasn't Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, it was fixing a hot meal for the elderly."

Sergeant Lammon grew up knowing there were less fortunate people in life than she was. It is a tender heart that leads her to help where there is a need.

"There is a passion inside of me that drives me to help others," Sergeant Lammon said. "There is always a need. Even if only a dollar is given, it helps someone, somewhere."

She and her husband share this philosophy wherever they spend their time.

"My husband and I are blessed to be in the Air Force," she said. "My mother grew up in a bombed out apartment in Berlin during World War II. We are very appreciative of the life we have."

Sergeant Lammon shows that appreciation in her continuous acts of service. Her charity work includes helping raise $1.5 million for National Combined Federal Campaign and being named one the campaign’s Military Hero. She also serves meals at a soup kitchen, paints houses for elderly people, donates blood and sends care packages to troops in the Middle East.

"In the scheme of things, the time I spend helping out is small," she said. "It makes a huge difference in their life though."

One of her recent adventures in volunteering was at Colorado’s Copper Mountain where she helped at the Special Olympics Winter Games by handing drinks to the athletes and their families.

"I'm learning about other people and their way of life when I volunteer," she said. "I might not be experiencing their challenges, but I'm helping to improve their quality of life."

Sergeant Lammon will attend the American Legion national convention Aug. 27 to Sept. 2, in Nashville, Tenn., where she will receive the award.