Her Wings Are Not Just On Her Shoulders
Recognizing Excellence: (l-r) Joint Base Andrews Commander, 316th Operations Group Col. Jun S. Oh, Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable Chair Michael Chiaramonte, Service Before Self Award honoree 316th Wing Senior Airman Katrina Messer and Roundtable Vice President and Director of Operations James Estepp. PHOTO: AMIR STOUDAMIRE // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
Joint Base Andrews Airman Awarded For Outstanding Community Service
By Raoul Dennis
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMIR STOUDAMIRE
Katrina Messer works over and beyond the call of duty everyday as a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force. The hours that she puts in on her day job help to keep Air Force One prepared at a moment’s notice, manage care for the nation’s most pre-eminent airport and keep the skies over the nation's capital safe and secure.
But for Senior Airman Messer her day job is just the beginning of her commitment.
“The Andrews Alliance and Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable are proud to present Senior Airman Katrina Messer our Service Before Self Award,” began then GPGBR chairman Michael Chiaramonte at the December 13 Andrews Business & Community Alliance Luncheon. The Alliance is a subsidiary of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable. “For not only [committing] your time and energies to protecting our nation but for all you do to enhance the communities in the region, assisting leadership in support of promoting mental health, and securing resources for women and their families. Your work on behalf of increasing both awareness and funding for treatment of substance abuse is as uplifting as your efforts assisting young children in high schools and putting both on permanent pathways to success. We are honored to present this award to you.”
Airman Messer humbly accepted the recognition.
“I'm grateful for this opportunity to be here,” she said. “The stories I've heard or talking with everyone and hearing the things that you're doing. You know, there are really big things happening. you know, and then being a part of everything.
I am. I have a huge passion for creating change and getting veterans and military members the services that they so well deserve and I'm hoping to continue on this career path of working towards military members getting the help they need towards mental health and being an advocate for anybody that I can military-wise because I think it starts at my level. And I’m hoping that that I can continue to carry on this way even though your girl gets tired.
But It's okay. I'm passionate.”
