Laughlin civilian wins NOMAR award

by Airman 1st Class Jimmie D. Pike
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

7/18/2013 - LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Bree Pelham, 47th Civil Engineer Squadron project manager, has recently won the National Organization for Mexican American Rights Meritorious Service Award for 2013.

The NOMAR award honors military members and Department of Defense civilian employees, who show role-model-like qualities and support the DoD mission.

"It's a volunteer award but it's given to people that have shown exemplary service and promotion of rights, things of that nature," said Pelham.

Pelham worked 450 community service hours during the allotted time frame, from June 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.

"I was fortunate to be in such a heavily populated community. In the Laughlin and Del Rio communities, life moves at a slower pace so you can appreciate the things that matter like helping people."

Her public service works include: nursing home visits, children's book readings, career panels, mentorship and college preparation sessions, career fairs, park clean-ups and more.

"In April I helped the Laughlin's Youth of the Year prepare for a regional speech competition in San Antonio, Texas, by helping with her technique by putting on a mock interview," said Pelham

Pelham has been at Laughlin for three years and quickly showed she had reason to be successful and stand out.

"Ms. Pelham is an outstanding employee," said Ben Graf, 47th CES engineer flight chief and Pelham's supervisor, "After only six months she was working full time and doing all the extra volunteer work."

With all the public service Pelham has done, she was the ideal candidate for submission.

"She is heavily involved with the base and the community," said Graf. "She's a hard-working volunteer and when I read the criteria for the award, she instantly came to mind."

Pelham believes in dedication to her work and plans to continue serving the community and helping others through self-less service.

"People don't work for awards, we just do what we are able to," said Pelham. "I do everything I do partly because of my upbringing, it is part of my belief system and it's also just right to work hard and give back."