Travis honors volunteers at annual luncheon Published May 17, 2017 By T.C. Perkins 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Hundreds of people were recognized for their volunteer service during a ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, April 28. Col. Corwin Pauly, 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, provided opening comments and presented more than 80 certificates and plaques with Chief Master Sgt. Michael Thomas, 60th Operations Group superintendent. The annual event, known as the Travis Air Force Base Annual Volunteers Luncheon, featured Col. (Dr.) Michael Higgins, 60th Medical Group commander, as guest speaker. “We recognize and celebrate the spirit, tradition, legacy and impact of selfless heroes who donate their time and other resources to improve the lives and performance of our team and the environments we work and live – they set a tone and culture of selfless service as volunteers,” said Higgins. “Travis volunteers span a variety of agencies and are part of the fabric of nearly every group and unit on this installation and the civilian community. You provide expertise, mentorship, wisdom, energy and vitality into our valued programs and operations.” “Outdoor recreation volunteers are the ‘lifeline’ to the Adventure and Tour Program,” said Higgins. “You bring energy and vitality to these programs that help our Airmen remain resilient with healthy and fun activities at a price that can only be offered because of the volunteer services provided.” April was National Volunteer Month, a time when the United States celebrates more than 62 million people – a quarter of the population – who give nearly 8 billion hours a year to numerous causes and programs. At Travis, volunteers support a variety of organizations including the largest Air Force medical facility, David Grant USAF Medical Center, base chapels, youth sports programs, squadrons and the Fisher House. In 2016, Airmen and their families contributed several thousand hours volunteering to support the base or the local community. Some have served as volunteers for more than 15 years. Volunteers from the Military Retirees Activity Office at Travis accumulated more than 34,600 hours of volunteer service. Retired Master Sgt. Luis Lopez and his wife, Carmen Lopez, have served as volunteers at Travis for the past 15 years. Every Tuesday afternoon the couple hands out medical prescriptions and refills at the Base Exchange Pharmacy. Luis and Carmen soon celebrate their 90th birthdays. “We ran into an old friend we hadn’t seen in a while and she asked if we wanted to volunteer some time to the Red Cross,” said Luis. “So we filled out the applications and started right away. Carmen handed out books and reading materials in another part of the Medical Group for a while and later joined me in the pharmacy.” “We love the people we work with in the pharmacy as well as the customers we serve,” said Luis.