Spirit of Hope Award
Below is my picture with the five awardees of this award:
I am humbled, grateful and deeply honored that I was nominated for the
Spirit of Hope award.
It is even more significant that I was nominated by the Marine Corps
with the remendous number of top quality folks I see every day. Many of
them are doing great things for our wounded.
That I won this Marine Corps award is more meaningful than I can ever
describe. I am still overwhelmed.
That day was probably the best day I will ever get. One of the wounded
Marines I helped hobbled over with his cane, gave me a hug, and said,
"Congratulations Uncle Joe, I am proud of you". I was able to introduce
my mom as a WW II Rosie the riveter.
One of the Three star generals standing at the back of the room met me
after the award was presented gave me a hug and told me he is proud of
me...He was a captain who worked for me when I was a Lieutenant Colonel.
He is now the director of the Army Staff. (AND He is proud of me??)
I will take this award home and create a place of honor for it. I am
sure it trumps my Silver Star, and Distinguished Flying Cross from
Vietnam and the Joint Services Commendation medal for working on the
Presidential Inauguration for George Bush senior.
Thank all of you who, like Sheri Dropinski, kept quiet about putting me
in for the award and those who kept quiet about the cake the next day at work..
I don't think life gets any better than this.
Bless you all.
This old man is going home with tears of joy in his eyes and a heart
filled to the brim. Indeed my cup runneth over.