Under the golden glow of chandeliers, the smell of food and sounds of chatter filled the Grande Ballroom at Club Hood Nov. 12, as members of the Fort Hood community gathered to recognize some of its finest.

“Today’s event is our fourth quarter fiscal year ‘14 Hood Heroes Award Ceremony,” said Mirissa Foster, event coordinator for Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. “The Hood Heroes Awards program was started back in 1999 by Lt. Gen. Leon Laporte to honor customer service and volunteerism.”

During the luncheon, about 80 military and civilian community members were awarded for their contributions in various areas.

“Some of the award categories are: volunteer of the quarter, blood donor awards, environmental stewardship awards and secretary of the army awards,” Foster said.

As each recipient crossed the stage, they shook hands with keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Alonzo Smith, III Corps and Fort Hood command sergeant major.

“This is the first time I have ever been formally recognized for my volunteerism,” said Carla Anthony, office manager for G3 at Operational Test Command. “I’m honored and deeply moved.”

Recipient of the Volunteer in the Communities – Individual and Civilian Volunteer of the Quarter awards, Anthony helps her command, and together with her daughters, they help the Killeen community in any way possible.

“If it requires food, clothes, whatever – I am there,” she added.

In a similar category was Master Sgt. Rodreques Lemon Sr., the 48th Chemical Brigade career counselor who received a volunteer certificate of appreciation.

“A year ago, my Family and I started a homeless foundation called Helping Homeless in Killeen,” Lemon said. “Since that time, we feed the homeless every Saturday from 4-5 p.m., and every Monday we do their laundry and provide them a hot breakfast.”

Anthony and Lemon agreed, it is not about the reward but about helping others and giving of oneself.

“If I can brighten someone’s day or take a load off of him or her, it makes me feel like I’m helping the world,” Anthony said.

“While it’s nice to know there are people out there that are taking note of what we do,” Lemon said, “the reward is helping people.”

It is Anthony’s hope that her generosity inspires others to pay it forward with a desire to brighten someone else’s day, too, she said.

As fiscal year ‘14 Hood Heroes came to an end, the recipients smiled, awards in hand. Foster was grateful for the opportunity to recognize them.

“Customer service and volunteerism are so important,” she said. “We want them to know that they are appreciated.”