Military Officer - July 2006 - (Page 53) serve, about 40 percent of these people do not have health insurance. It is something that is simply wrong.” Sears Holdings Corp. Award: MOAA Distinguished Service Award Recognized for: Supporting military employees since 1916; making up the salary difference between Sears and the military for a deployed employee; supporting programs for spouses; donating $2.5 million so children of those who are deployed can participate in recreational camps. Aylwin Lewis, CEO and president of Sears Holdings Corp., whose son is training to be an Army warrant officer after 10 years in the military, accepted the award. “It’s an honor to be here to accept this award from MOAA,” Lewis said. “We take it seriously. It’s easy to support the military. It is the honorable thing to do. I will tell you that a lot of our leaders come from the military. In my mind, there is no finer organization that develops leadership in the young men and women than the military. And we love to bring these folks in [to Sears or K-Mart], and they make an instant contribution. It is our policy, and will continue to be our policy, to support heroes and heroines that serve, and have served, in the military.” their lives to support and defend the Constitution. He said the group he represented was spared, and then he honored those who gave their lives for freedom. “For us wounded, life continues,” he said. “We are reminded daily of our sacrifice but refuse to be limited by our injuries or defined by our disabilities. The warrior ethos still burns strong in all of us, and there is much to be done.” Giammatteo is being medically retired and will attend Harvard Business School. Gary Leeling, Senate Armed Services Committee staff Award: Col. Paul W. Arcari Meritorious Service Award Recognized for: Years of work to authorize a variety of mil- itary compensation improvements, including TRICARE For Life, concurrent receipt, and survivor benefits fixes. After thanking the senators with whom he works, Leeling highlighted the Personnel Subcommittee staff. “We all pull together and we all wonder how to take care of the servicemembers and their families and retirees. Our focus is always on what we can do for them.” Meredith Beck, Sen. Lindsey Graham’s legislative assistant Award: Col. Paul W. Arcari Meritorious Service Award Recognized for: Working tirelessly on people issues All those wounded in combat in all wars Award: MOAA Distinguished Service Award Recognized for: Past and pres- that affect military servicemembers, including crafting bill provisions and building bipartisan support for the senator’s efforts to expand health care and retirement benefits for members of the Guard and Reserve. Beck said, “Senator Graham says that if we are going to transform weapons platforms, we must transform military benefits at the same time to reflect the service of those people who are serving in the military — and that would mean TRICARE for reservists who are doing a very honorable job in the war on terrorism. I also want to recognize the members of MOAA for mobilizing and getting the word out on Capitol Hill.” MO J U LY 2 0 0 6 ent sacrifice for the nation at risk of life. Capt. Marc Giammatteo, USA, who was seriously wounded in Iraq and had 30 operations, accepted the award on behalf of all servicemembers wounded in combat, past and present. Giammatteo said he represented a large group of servicemembers and that each wounded individual represented many more people — a mother and father; family and friends; and teams of doctors, nurses, social workers, case managers, and countless volunteers. He continued that all servicemembers are prepared to give PHOTOS THIS SPREAD: STEVE BARRETT MILITARY OFFICER 55
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