CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marine and Family Programs hosted the 2013 Volunteer of the Year Awards Ceremony at the base theater here April 25.

Awardees received celebrity treatment as they made their way to the theater on red carpet, were served hors d’oeuvres and stopped to take snap shots in the photo booth area before and after the ceremony.

“I’m still shaking from the whole experience; it was a total surprise,” said Karen Broadmeadow, recipient of the Setting the Example Award. “I volunteer because there is a lot of value in coming together as a community to help others, and you meet so many wonderful people.”

Brig. Gen. Vincent A. Coglianese, base commanding general and regional authority for five Marine Corps installations in the Southwestern United States, presented awards to the following recipients:

• Volunteer of the Year-Civilian: Mike Bland
• Volunteer of the Year-Military: Cpl. Sean Bautista
• Volunteer of the Year-Team: L.I.N.K.S.
• Volunteer Unit of the Year-Small Unit: 9th Communication Battalion
• Volunteer Unit of the year-Large Unit: Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton
• Volunteer of the Year-Youth: McKenna Wade
• Setting the Example Award: Karen Broadmeadow

“It’s very humbling to be able to present awards to the people who give of themselves and do so much for the base,” said Coglianese. “We’re blessed to have them here and it’s a great honor to be able to do this for them.”

Many of the volunteers showed expressed that what they do is out of appreciation for service members.

“My whole focus is taking care of Marines, sailors and their families. That’s where my heart is,” said Broadmeadow. “I do this because I like to help others.”

For more information about Marine and Family Programs visit mccspc.com.