Fort Bliss Monitor

USO Spirit of Hope awarded

Spc. Steve Baack
Monitor Staff

The USO Spirit of Hope Award was awarded to a Soldier for the first time, Sgt. 1st Class Barbara Gravelin, presented by the Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, at the Abraham Chavez Theater June 30.

Gravelin, a Noncommissioned Officer In Charge of the Hospital Dental Clinic and a senior NCO for the post’s Dental Activity, was awarded the medallion for long hours of volunteer work around the post and the community despite the responsibilities her position requires of her. She spearheaded and participated in “no less than 40 community service initiatives designed to improve the morale and welfare of the Fort Bliss Military Community,” according to her biography.

The award is the highest and most prestigious honor given by the USO. Servicemembers must meet a list of requirements in order to be nominated for the award including: on Active Duty, or a member of the Reserves or National Guard with a one-year retainability or obligated service; must demonstrate selfless service in improving the lives of fellow servicemembers; must epitomize and represent the values, principles and spirit of the USO and Armed Forces; and must have improved the morale and welfare of the unit.

Past recipients for the award include Bob Hope, Walter Cronkite, Sen. John Glenn, Sen. Strom Thurmond, USAA and The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	July 22, 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	USO Spirit of Hope awarded Spc. Steve Baack Monitor Staff The USO Spirit of Hope Award was awarded to a Soldier for the first time, Sgt. 1st Class Barbara Gravelin, presented by the Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, at the Abraham Chavez Theater June 30. Gravelin, a Noncommissioned Officer In Charge of the Hospital Dental Clinic and a senior NCO for the post’s Dental Activity, was awarded the medallion for long hours of volunteer work around the post and the community despite the responsibilities her position requires of her. She spearheaded and participated in “no less than 40 community service initiatives designed to improve the morale and welfare of the Fort Bliss Military Community,” according to her biography. The award is the highest and most prestigious honor given by the USO. Servicemembers must meet a list of requirements in order to be nominated for the award including: on Active Duty, or a member of the Reserves or National Guard with a one-year retainability or obligated service; must demonstrate selfless service in improving the lives of fellow servicemembers; must epitomize and represent the values, principles and spirit of the USO and Armed Forces; and must have improved the morale and welfare of the unit. Past recipients for the award include Bob Hope, Walter Cronkite, Sen. John Glenn, Sen. Strom Thurmond, USAA and The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.