Photo:  White House photo by Joyce Boghosian

President Bush presents the President's Volunteer Service Award to Army spouse Colleen Saffron from Fort Hood, Texas, before the White House celebration of Military Spouse Day on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. Saffron's husband, Staff Sergeant Terry Saffron, was severely injured in Iraq in May 2004 when an improvised explosive device was detonated, shattering his lower right jaw and injuring his right arm, resulting in loss of all muscle tissue. In March 2007, Saffron collaborated with a Navy and Air Force spouse to create Operation Life Transformed. This non-profit charitable foundation helps educate and train military spouses and caregivers of wounded troops, which allows them to work from home while caring for their loved one. To date, Operation Life Transformed has paid for 30 spouses and caregivers to enter online training programs. Saffron, who is legally deaf, also volunteers with Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, an organization that trains dogs, free of charge, to assist people living with deafness or mobility-related issues. Saffron and her hearing dog, Gretchen, visit schools to educate children about how service dogs can assist the disabled.

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