Ruppersberger Honors Five Local Volunteers for Their Service to Maryland Veterans

(Timonium, MD)- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) proudly announces the recipients of the 5th Annual 2nd District Congressional Veteran Volunteer Awards: 

• Leo Caron of Parkville is a disabled veteran and volunteers at the Baltimore Rehabilitation Extended Care Center (BRECC).  Although he relies on a walker to get around, Mr. Caron makes sure the veterans have everything they need during their stay at the BRECC.  He donates his time, money, and friendship to the patients. 

• Wendy Cramer of Fort Howard also volunteers at the BRECC.  In addition to making sure supplies are always well-stocked, Ms. Cramer spends a lot of extra time and energy making holidays and special events positive and festive for veterans. 

• Hilda Davis of Nottingham volunteers at the BRECC at the Loch Raven Campus.  Ms. Davis puts together special events for the veterans.  She provides veterans with snacks and goodies they might not normally receive during their stay.  Her husband, H. Lee Davis, received the Veteran Volunteer Award last year. 

• Chuck LaHatte of Pasadena is also a veteran and drives a Disabled American Veterans (DAV) van for patients at the Veteran Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Fort Howard.  Mr. LaHatte volunteers about twenty hours a week to make sure veterans have transportation to and from their medical visits.  

• Lydie Masse of Baltimore works as a hospice night nurse at the BRECC.  In the morning when her shift is over, Ms. Masse stays to escort patients to breakfast, play the piano, and sing for the veterans during their meals.  She provides a positive and uplifting influence for the veterans during their stay. 

“We must honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women who wore the uniform and served our country in the military.  These dedicated volunteers help us do this by providing invaluable service to our nation’s veterans staying at VA facilities in Maryland.  The volunteers go the extra mile to bring smiles and joy to the faces of patients.  It is an honor to award these tireless advocates the 2nd District Congressional Veteran Volunteer Award.  This award pays tribute to their extraordinary contributions to the lives of our veterans,” said Congressman Ruppersberger.  

The Congressman presented the awards to the volunteers at a special ceremony at his District Office on April 11, 2008.  The Congressman established the 2nd Congressional District Veterans Advisory Council in 2003.   Nominations for the 2nd District Congressional Veteran Volunteer Awards are accepted from patients, patients’ family members, VA facility visitors, staff, or volunteers of VA facilities in the 2nd District.  Members of the Veterans Advisory Council review the nominations and determine award recipients.

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