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April 7, 2010 in City
Four service members named persons of year
Tech. Sgt. Amber Campbell, center, receives her award for Armed Services Person of the Year, senior division, Tuesday, April 6, 2010, from U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, left, and Shawn Mayo at the Doubletree Hotel in Spokane. Mayo is the chair of the Armed Services Committee of Greater Spokane Incorporated.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
Four military service members were honored Tuesday by Greater Spokane Inc. and U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
The regional business organization named Senior Airman Joseph Sparks, Marine Staff Sgt. Daniel Otero, Senior Airman Christopher DeJesus and Air Force Tech. Sgt. Amber Campbell “Persons of the Year.”
Ten other nominees also were celebrated.
McMorris Rodgers called them all “guardians of America’s freedom and the freedom of the world.”
And freedom is under attack, the 5th District Republican congresswoman said.
“Every day, our survival is threatened by radical Islamic terrorists whose aim is to kill innocent men, women and children – even at the cost of their own lives,” McMorris Rodgers said.
She said Iraq has been the “central front” in the “global war on terror,” but U.S. military efforts there have “made tremendous progress in bringing stability and democracy to that country.”
Now, McMorris Rodgers said, “if we can turn Afghanistan into a free and democratic ally as we’re trying to do, we’ll have a valued partner in our efforts to eradicate al-Qaida from the earth.”
About 250 people attended Tuesday’s 54th annual award ceremony at the downtown Doubletree Hotel.
A committee selected the winners on the basis of community as well as military activities. Responsibilities, accomplishments, leadership, education, poise and courtesy were among the factors considered.
The awards were given in junior and senior enlisted categories among two groups: reservists and National Guard members, and active-duty personnel.
Campbell and DeJesus won in the active-duty category; Otero and Sparks, in the reservist category.
Campbell is the noncommissioned officer in charge of medical administration at the Air Force Survival School at Fairchild Air Force Base. DeJesus is an instructor at the school.
Otero is the line supervisor for a Marine howitzer unit and has served two tours in Iraq. Sparks is a communications-computer systems craftsman in the 141st Communications Flight.
Other nominees:
Reserve/Guard
Junior enlisted – Religious Programs Specialist Seaman David Ebel, Navy Reserve.
Senior enlisted – Tech. Sgt. Michael S. Wirth, Washington Air National Guard; Staff Sgt. Zach Wood, Washington Army National Guard.
Active Duty
Junior enlisted – Senior Airman Christopher R. Tran, Air Force (currently deployed); Logistics Specialist Second Class (aviation warfare) Michael J. Schwenk, Navy; Sgt. Christopher J. Altringer, Marine Corps.
Senior enlisted – Hospital Corpsman First Class Jesus Orozco, Navy; Senior Master Sgt. James M. Pittman, Air Force; Sgt. First Class Donald J. Buckley, Army; Gunnery Sgt. Adam Ruiz, Marine Corps.
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nwpeace on April 07 at 9:24 a.m.
Thank you for the service of the wonderful members of our military.
But….McMorris is completely delusional. #1, Iraq is NOT the “central front” on global terror. #2, Afghanistan will NEVER be a democratic society.
Another_Perspective on April 07 at 10:00 a.m.
and to add…”McMorris Rodgers called them all “guardians of America’s freedom”
a geography lesson is needed. America spans from Canada to Chile. Its a continent and not a nation.
“She said Iraq has been the “central front” in the “global war on terror,” but U.S. military efforts there have “made tremendous progress in bringing stability and democracy to that country.”
So why is it as we are leaving Iraq that bombings in Baghdad are on the increase?
“And freedom is under attack, the 5th District Republican congresswoman said.”
Yes we are under economic attack by our congress which has spent us into bankruptcy.
“reservist” Should be capitalized.
McMorris is so clueless. We need to dump her back to selling apples by the roadside. Her staff is as crooked as a dogs hind leg.
Albert on April 07 at 10:01 a.m.
HBL - you’re right on all accounts. I’m a disabled Vet with obvious service-connected injuries. After 3 years of fighting with the VA - they finally agreed - I’m completely disabled. During these times of my battle with the VA, I went to the Congresswoman for help - absolutely NOTHING was provided in the way of assistance. I also went to Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell - same story and same results. If you think this election year smokescreen by the Congresswoman is in anyway “pro-vet / pro-military” think again. Based upon my dismal results for help when I really needed it, the Congresswoman was NEVER there. Talk about a publicity stunt….this one is the best yet.
eagleproducer on April 07 at 10:21 a.m.
McMorris/Rogers is an attractive woman in an empty suit. She’s our own Sarah Palin who hasn’t spouted an original idea in her entire political career. The scary part is she is obviously being groomed for leadership in the GOP and only the voters of the fifth district can stop that from happening. But that won’t happen soon, based upon the record of voters in her district who clearly don’t understand what is in their best interests.
Cathy posing with members of the military is like having the cat pose with mice. “Hey, I really wanna thank you for your sacrifice and commitment, but get off to war now, killing yourselves and others to spread “American” corporate hegemony across the globe. If she really cared about the military, her and other “conservatives” would have advocated for a draft that would spread the sacrifice amongst the entire population. If this is indeed the challenge of our generation I am sickened that we’ve allowed 1% of our population to bear the burden. I’ll guarantee you if the children of the elite and congress were being killed in both wars, they’d been wrapped up long ago.
eagleproducer on April 07 at 10:23 a.m.
Another: Cathy just learned “America” is more than that girl on “Ugly Betty.”
eagleproducer on April 07 at 10:39 a.m.
Also, “reservist” in that context is not capitalized because it is describing the nature of their service rather than their designation/status as service members. It is part of an adjectival clause and is an adjective in this case. You didn’t argue for “active-duty” to be capitalized and it’s employed in the same context, why?
Iraq will dissolve once again into sectarian civil war and the entire region will be destabilized. Even if the democratic process works, what emerges will be a government closely tied to Iran that will be anti-U.S. in nature. I suppose that’s to be expected after nearly a decade of death and destruction of your culture.
MrNatural on April 07 at 10:40 a.m.
Excellent! spoketucky.
McMorris-Rodgers is an empty suit…and she has not ever supported one bill in favor of GI’s or veterans to my knowledge as she tows the party line. She is also a flat out lobbyist in sheep’s (congressional) clothing. It is quite apparent she represents the worst aspects of political business. She is one of many obstructionists who cater specifically to special interest which in turn is detrimental to the health and wealth of the citizenry as a whole.
I am as always disgusted by the two faces of these types of political hacks…
Another_Perspective on April 07 at 11:21 a.m.
Hey Albert.. I had the same experience with the Bimbo in red. Her staff i.e. OUR employees are a bunch of corrupt carpet baggers that ignore service persons problems.
MrNatural on April 07 at 11:25 a.m.
Congratulations and thank you to those service members who were honored for their duty to this country. (My indignation distracts me at times)
deacon46 on April 07 at 11:41 a.m.
Was this a photo op for McMorris. Very rude and demeaning………
Albert on April 07 at 3:20 p.m.
Another-Perspective, how unfortunate and I completely understand your frustration - and mine! I did receive a call from one of the Congresswoman’s staff who informed me that all of their Vet inquiries are turned over to the local VFW for processing. Can you believe this? If you have recently seen a picture of the Congresswoman with her spouse, he is sporting a VFW cap. If this isn’t a mockery then I don’t know what else to say. Here’s a member of Congress who funnels her duties and responsibilities for her constituencies over to an independent non-profit group made up of voluntary, part-time, folks who shuffle paperwork. This is shocking. We really need to see a responsible, progressive candidate step up and replace her in this election. I can assure you that the disabled vets, like you and I, would support this person. Anybody would be better.
west on April 07 at 6:54 p.m.
You notice Rodgers is holding the award with the soldiers?. I think she should be on the side with the soldier holding the award only .He earned it, not Rodgers….like she is getting the award too. Bad pr Rodgers!
Sauce on April 07 at 8:38 p.m.
Three Marines awarded/nominated—yet there are no Marines left in Iraq. Six airmen and three sailors, whose services see nearly no direct combat and endure much shorter deployments. Only TWO Soldiers, who bear the brunt of the battle—the casualties, the combat, the long deployments, the coping with the wreckage left of their bodies, minds, and families when and if they return. Probable reason one—all the Soldiers were gone soldiering, and were not available for the photo op. Number two—they saw through this calculated, meaningless “award”, as did officers from all the services, who are conspicuously absent.
deacon46 on April 08 at 7:09 a.m.
It seems to me that one day of this blantant political ad is enough. Move on Spokesman-Review we got the message.
eagleproducer on April 08 at 10:51 a.m.
It was pretty convenient for the Congressperson to plan this photo op on the day she announced her bid for re-election. I listened to an interview that contained pieces of her platform. Jobs were never mentioned but the fear card (as in her speech at this event) was liberally sprinkled throughout along with what is amounting to the national strategy for the GOP this election cycle: Repeal and Replace.
Cathy is the fourth highest ranking member of the GOP in the house. Her voting record has been consistently on the side of the wealthy elite and the military industrial complex and against working class interests. She’s never really had a job outside of politics except to leech upon a family legacy of apple farming during campaign time to give the false impression she’s actually done something other than be a pretty face bleating RNC talking points.
Congress has their lowest approval rating in history and ousting Cathy should be on the agenda of every voter in her district. What, exactly, has she done to improve conditions for liberty, commerce, health, education in our district? The fifth district is the third world folks. In fact, the U.S. is the third world now: 700 billionaires and 40 million living below poverty level.