Veterans, civilians and military spouses were recognized for volunteering their time to help Marines and sailors during an awards luncheon at the Pacific Views Event Center here Dec. 4.

“The volunteers are the life blood of the organization,” said Mike Hire, the director of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society office here. “They literally do the work of the society.”

The award recipients are NMCRS volunteers who accumulated more than 100 volunteer hours in areas such as performing clerical work, knitting baby blankets, teaching the Budget for Baby class and running the thrift store.

The society keeps a running total of hours, regardless of where volunteers donate their time, Hire explained.

For example, Jenny Vetch, volunteer and military spouse, has not only volunteered here, but has also given her time at the 12th Marine Corps District in San Diego where her husband was stationed. That time combined added up to more than 2,500 hours, which was the most hours awarded at the luncheon.

“It’s that spirit of volunteerism that reminds me why I defend this nation,” said Col. Eugene Apicella, the deputy commander of five Marine Corps installations in the Southwestern United States. “It’s because of people like them, who are willing to give their personal time and put themselves into it to help out their fellow Americans, that I’m proud to serve.”

The semi-annual awards event was first held in 1948 when the first NMCRS office here opened for business.

These special events are held because the volunteers are appreciated by the organization for what they contribute, Hire said.

To learn more about volunteering, visit: http://www.nmcrs.org/