News & Happenings
May 3, 2007
Audrey Stout was doing what her husband wanted – presenting the My Boss is a Patriot Award to Security Manager Shawn Caughey.
Her husband, former Transportation Security Officer and U.S. Army Reserve Specialist Brandon Stout, 23, was killed in action January 22 in Iraq. Last July, Brandon nominated Caughey, his supervisor at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, Mich., for the award.
Caughey took his 10-year-old son to meet Brandon before he went to Iraq: "I wanted him to meet a true hero. I am so glad I did that." And Caughey made every effort to keep in touch with Brandon to let him know that he was still part of the Gerald R. Ford TSA team.
"I will never forget how kind you were to my husband and for that I thank you," Audrey told Caughey.
The award was sponsored by the Michigan National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, on behalf of the Department of Defense.