Photo:  White House photo by Joyce Boghosian

President Bush presents the President's Volunteer Service Award to Coast Guard spouse Ramona Vazquez from Baltimore, Maryland, before the White House celebration of Military Spouse Day on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. Vazquez is the President of the Greater Baltimore Area Coast Guard Spouses Association. She is the creator and webmaster of the Coast Guard Spouses Association website, an online resource for new families transitioning into the Baltimore area. Vazquez is also the founder of Nate’s Open Door Baby Pantry, which provides diapers, formula, clothing, toys, and furniture at no cost to military members of all ranks and services and civilians. The program was named in honor of DC3 Nathan Bruckenthal, who was killed in action in 2004 while serving a second tour in Iraq. Nate and his wife were expecting their first child at the time of his death. In addition, Vazquez has adopted two soldiers and their platoons through Soldier’s Angels, a nationwide program that enlists volunteers to aid and assist deployed soldiers all over the world through care packages and letters of encouragement.

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