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Lt. Gov. Gregg recognizes Veterans Home volunteers

T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS - Iowa Veterans Home volunteer Roger Dirks, center, and Norman Charlton, not pictured, were honored with the Commandant’s Award Wednesday. Also pictured are Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, left, and Iowa Veterans Home Commandant Timon Oujiri, right.

They help with anything and everything that needs done around the Iowa Veterans Home, giving their personal time and energy to ensuring quality of life for residents. They have collectively logged thousands upon thousands of hours of work.

They are the Iowa Veterans Home volunteers, and they were honored at the 45th Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Wednesday afternoon in the Malloy Leisure Resource Center. Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, the son of a veteran, was the keynote speaker.

“You have over 150 trained volunteers that have given at least three hours each month. Thirty-six of those volunteers gave over 100 hours of their time last year, and 10 volunteers gave over 300 hours,” Gregg said. “Those numbers speak volumes, and what a gift to the community of Marshalltown and especially to the residents here at the Iowa Veterans Home.”

Gregg said Gov. Kim Reynolds wanted to be at the event Wednesday but was attending to severe flooding in southwest Iowa.

Iowa Veterans Home Commandant Timon Oujiri also shared his thanks to the small army of volunteers for the work they put in every day.

T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS - Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg addresses dozens of Iowa Veterans Home volunteers at Wednesday’s luncheon.

“If you are here once a year, once a month, once a week or daily, like a number of you are, your volunteerism is so meaningful to our residents,” he said. “From greeting our new families, our guests, our residents and our staff to attending events off-campus – the Iowa State Fair, UNI sporting events, community events, enjoying meals in local restaurants, fishing trips – these events would not happen without you.”

Dozens of individual volunteers were spotlighted at the luncheon. Some prestigious awards were also given out to individuals with an equally prestigious commitment to the Veterans Home residents.

This year’s Commandant’s Award winners were Roger Dirks and Norman Charlton. A Years of Service Award was given to Helen Sagar, who has served 40 years as a volunteer.

Another big accomplishment highlighted was that of Dita Boroom, who was honored for her 34,650 (and counting) volunteer hours.

Volunteer Billy Wilson and the Marshalltown High School Class of 1969 were also recognized with the 2019 Distinguished Service Award for a tree replanting effort in the wake of the July 19 tornado.

“Thank you for serving them because they so bravely served us,” Gregg said.

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Contact Adam Sodders at (641) 753-6611 or asodders@timesrepublican.com

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