Brownsboro's Garner receives Presidential award
By Chad Wilson Editor

Dwayne Garner

Volunteer- One who offers himself for a service of his own free will.

As time passes by volunteers are becoming rare. Most people want to be paid or highly recognized for the services they perform.

Last Monday, April 28 the Smith County Commissioners Court and staff of the Veterans Services Department recognized four volunteers and presented each of them with President's Volunteer Service Award. The award is a national honor offered in recognition of volunteer service.

Brownsboro's Dwayne Garner, Shari Stephens of Tyler, Henry Falgoust of Chapel Hill and Dennis Henderson of Ben Wheeler are all disabled military veterans who were recognized for their volunteer work at the Veterans Services Department located in Tyler.

Garner and Stephens received the "silver" award for 250 hours of service. Falgoust and Henderson received the "bronze" award for over 100 hours of service.

"I thought I was coming in for a meeting," Dwayne Garner said. "I had a two-page speech prepared for what I believed to be the topic of the meeting."

To Garner's surprise Director of Smith County Veterans Service Department Toby Cross had called the four volunteers into the meeting to present them with awards.

Once Garner returned to the area after serving 20 years in the Air Force, eight years overseas, he went to the Tyler office for assistance.

The office went "above and beyond" for him and he saw volunteering as a way to give back.

"The reason I am a volunteer is I want to help fellow veterans, including those who served in World War II." Garner said. "The military has always been good to me."

In July Garner will have served the Services Department for two years. He works about 17 hours a week and says that the office continues to go above and beyond for every Vet, even those that do not live in Smith County.

In his 2002 State of The Union address, President George W. Bush created the USA Freedom Corps, and called on every American to make a lifelong commitment to volunteer service. The President's Volunteer Service award recognizes individuals and families who have answered that call.

Established in 2003, the President's Volunteer Service award is available on an annual basis to individuals, groups and families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship through volunteering.

"I have enjoyed working with these volunteers" said Toby Cross. "Without their work and assistance in my office, it would be much more difficult to properly serve our vets. These disabled military veterans have a heart for their volunteer service because they sincerely want to help our veterans."