LIMESTONE, Maine — Students from the Loring Job Corps Center in Limestone recently earned the Presidential Volunteer Service Medal for their hundreds of hours of volunteer and community service work to the local community.
The awards were presented by the Caribou Veterans of Foreign Wars, which for years has partnered with the center to conduct community service projects within the huge veteran communities of northern Maine.
Caribou VFW Commander Roger Felix said the organization, along with the Loring students over the past year, have completed thousands of hours of community service in support of veterans and their families, which has resulted in them leading the way for others in the community to see firsthand what is achievable with just a few motivated people and the desire to make their community a better place.
Last year the VFW joined the Points of Light Foundation, which is a national organization that tracks the efforts of nonprofit groups and how they impact the community in volunteerism, community service and enhancing citizenship. The Caribou VFW, through its partnership with the Job Corps, was able to track and include the students’ youth volunteerism efforts and then recommend them to the Points of Light Foundation for individual recognitions.
Felix said the VFW reported total hours for the students which ranged from 120 to over 250 hours in assisting in community efforts over the past year, ranging from service projects, volunteering at the Maine Veterans Home, soup kitchen and food pantry, to ensuring no one is forgotten by placing markers and flags on over 1,500 veterans’ graves for Memorial Day.
Students receiving awards included Fahmu Mohammed, Richard Garcia, David Odiaka, Lucas Gonzalez, Damien Zarate, Jacob Tilley, Marc Perez and Keeffer Parchment.
During the presentation of the awards, Felix stated how proud he was of each of the students in giving up their free time to ensure the needs of people they did not know were meet to the highest standards.
“And we know that this is just the beginning in your showing what right looks like in your community,” he said.
“Job Corps and the VFW have developed a strong bond of community spirit and dedication that has been unmatched by any other group. These students here today are showing selfless service, which is one of the greatest leadership traits a leader could have, and I challenge them to continue this level of citizenship at all your future endeavors,” he told the students.
“Each of you have come from different cultures, hometowns, triumphs and even personal struggles,” he said. “However, you have shown that together we are stronger, and the entire country can learn from your core values, on behalf of the president and the Caribou VFW, I salute you.”
The awards include a medallion based on total hours completed, a certificate and a letter of congratulations from the president.
