Congratulations to Operations Programs Specialist Angel Gual (above) who was recognized in the Service to the Community category at the South Florida Federal Executive Board’s annual “Federal Employee of the Year” Awards Program on Friday, May 11.
Gual served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a C130 Engine Mechanic in Special Ops Logistics at Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, TX; Hurlburt Field, Okaloosa County, FL; Pope Air Force Base, Cumberland County, NC; and Yokota Air Base, Fussa, Japan. He also provided support to Missing In Action (MIA) searches in Vietnam.
In civilian life, Gual continues to report for duty through a non-profit group, “The Mission Continues,” which empowers veterans who are facing the challenge of adjusting to life at home to find new missions. Founded in 2007, the organization "redeploys veterans in their communities, so that their shared legacy will be one of service and success.”
In June 2017, “The Mission Continues” deployed more than 70 veteran volunteers, including Gual, to Atlanta’s Westside for a week-long service mission to tackle some of the community’s toughest challenges. Using their skills, leadership and experience, veterans worked alongside families and community partners to deliver a week of revitalization.
Gual and veterans from across the nation participated in “Operation Westside Surge” in Mattie Freeland Park. Freeland was a longtime resident in a neighborhood that suffered greatly during and after the drug epidemic of the 1980s. After her death at age 93 in 2008, the community rallied to create Mattie Freeland Park.
Last year, Gual also led a Miami platoon of 600 veterans who participated in various community service projects. They collected school supplies and gave away 300 backpacks to South Florida children. In December 2016, his platoon visited disabled veterans at the Miami VA Hospital and landscaped a garden area and planted some trees on the grounds.
In January 2017, Gual participated in a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. community project that included cleaning and landscaping an historic African-American cemetery in Miami.
In February 2017, Gual landscaped small city parks in Miami, and in July 2017, Gual and his platoon packaged thousands of seed packets which were sent to Haiti for residents to grow their own food.
In August 2017, Gual and his veterans planted 300 trees in Key Biscayne to reduce erosion. Gual and other veterans traveled to Big Pine Key and Summerland Key to clean veterans’ homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
When asked about the “Federal Employee of the Year” Award, a humble Gual indicated that he would “continue to do what I love to do” … and that is helping people who are in need and empowering veterans who are adjusting to civilian life.
No comments:
Post a Comment