Reservist among honorees at Hispanic national convention Published July 18, 2007 By Rob Lazaro Air Force Public Affairs CHICAGO -- An Air Force Reservists was among three Airmen honored at the largest, oldest Hispanic organization's annual conference here at Navy Pier July 9-14. Senior Master Sgt. Angelita Ramirez Thayer, from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., received the "Excellence in Military Service Award" during the 78th Annual League of United Latin American Citizens National Convention. The LULAC convention provides Hispanics and the Air Force a forum to foster mutual understanding as well as to increase awareness of the opportunities and benefits of careers in the military. LULAC recognized three Airmen with "Excellence in Military Service Awards" for their efforts in the war on terrorism, support for the ideals of duty, honor, country and epitomizing the core values of military service. The other Air Force honorees included Master Sgt. Carlos E. Torres from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and Master Sgt. Gary Arturo Flossman from Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif. "It's nice to be recognized, not only for me but for my family as well." said Sergeant Thayer, who has been involved with LULAC since 2000. "It shows that the work I put in is making a difference." Above and beyond her military duties, Sergeant Thayer also volunteers countless hours with her local community and schools. She serves as an English tutor for Citizenship classes and translator in the Tacoma School District helping teachers and administrators communicate with local Spanish-speaking families. "Sergeant Thayer, as well as all the military award recipients, were recognized for being extremely giving people," said Maj. Gen. Linda S. Hemminger, deputy joint staff surgeon and director of joint reserve medical readiness operations and affairs. "Her efforts in the Latino community were geared towards helping other people develop and improve, making her recognition well deserved." General Hemminger, who is also the chair of the Air Force Reserve Command's Human Resources Development Council, expressed that the military's participation fits in with the conference's theme of "Empowering Latinos: Building Prosperity through Partnerships." "All the services and our Total Force are represented here," said General Hemminger. "Our presence shows our support and commitment to human rights and the strength of our military through its diversity." "Our primary focus at an event like this is to create awareness," said Chief Master Sgt. Robert Starkey, chief of the advertising branch for the Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service. "We've met a lot of focused, career-driven youth (at the conference) and we just want to make them aware that they can also pursue their chosen specialties and interests in the military." High school student Angel Gonzales of Cicero, Ill. commented on the number of "great opportunities" he learned about by while speaking with various Airmen at the conference. Although he spoke with Airmen from diverse Air Force career fields, he was still set on a future in Special Forces which he plans to pursue after graduation. "Our speaker was really inspirational," said Morton High School sophomore Diana Hidalgo of Stickney, Ill. "She showed me that with hard work that I could also become a pilot one day." Created in 1991, the HRDC is a multi-tiered AFRC initiative designed specifically to focus on the human resource issues facing the command. The HRDC is involved in a variety of activities including gathering senior leadership demographic information and establishing Department of Defense partnerships with key civilian minority and female organizations such as LULAC. The HRDC also worked with more than 700 youth from all over Illinois and Indiana during the LULAC conference educating them on opportunities in the military and civil service. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)