Awards recognition

In the military, when you go “above and beyond” in the course of action, you might earn a well-deserved Bronze Star or even the rare Silver Star. Then there is the Congressional Medal of Honor. To earn that, you have to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

We are about to award one of those.

But first, let me say, the hotel move yesterday morning went better than we could have imagined. The final report will show that we captured:

• 39 dining room chairs
• 16 round end tables
• 101 end tables
• 59 three-drawer dressers
• 42 televisions
• 202 lamps with shades
• 43 living room chairs

Last year, when we took down the hotel in DC, we had 22 volunteers, and I said we would never get that many again, and I was right. This year, we had 31.

In the parent-and-child category, we had Pat Bakey and his son Jack Bakey; Kelly Costello and her son Gus Costello. In the team-leader category, we had Chris Baliko, Doug Free, Jack Gibala, Andre Jackson, Chris Leonette and Paul Smith. In the couples category, we had Brian and Marie Hinkle, Bob and Patti Kane, Kevin and Beth Keegan. The biggest (and most cohesive) group consisted of Eithne Ellis, Kathleen McGuan, Dorea McMahon, Marian Moriarity, Karen O’Brien, Pat Succar and Donna Williams. And, as promised, we had newbies: Tony Davella and John Swarthout.

They went through that property like locusts. You all know what furniture team you were on, and the report reflects, in gross terms, your success, but never tells the whole story.

What it does not show is the extra effort (above and beyond) that some went to in order to ensure that success. The TV team could have put up greater numbers, but many of the TVs were unexpectedly bolted to the dressers, so time had to be spent freeing them. Lisa Johnson, who initially had to turn us down because of work and house guests, showed up anyway, and was, as always, amazing. Bronze Stars all around.

Then, when our part of the move was done and the professionals from Metropolitan Movers were taking over, our exhausted volunteers took a much-deserved bow and made their way home. Well, not all of them.

I had to leave to attend a graduation in the Northern Neck of Virginia, and assumed that Jimmy would be there until the end. Jimmy got the call on that move from last Saturday that had to be postponed, so he grabbed some volunteers and left to do that one, assuming I would be tail-end Charlie. I feared the worst. Unnecessarily.

Don Butcher stepped up to handle the inventory. Newbie John Swarthout joined him and kept the professionals moving in the right direction. Silver Stars for both.

Then, there is Phil Burroughs. He joined Don and John to handle the wrap-up, and just when they were heading home, Phil realized there had been a miscommunication on the living room chairs. There were some we were taking, and some we were not. The movers, apparently, thought we weren’t taking any. So, while there was still room in the last truck, Phil rallied the moving crew to get all they could handle. He didn’t leave until the last truck was packed — hours after the rest of us headed home — but he wasn’t going anywhere until the job was done, and done right.

His citation shall read:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty…”

OTS proudly awards the Congressional Medal of Honor to Phillip Burroughs — a volunteer’s volunteer.

One last note. Mike Dyer had the hookup with Berg Corporation, the company that will ultimately take down the hotel. At Mike’s request, they invited us to take the furniture we needed. When they found out about the good works of OTS, they said they do this kind of thing fairly often and would invite us again. In fact, they said they have another hotel coming down in three months.

We thanked them for thinking of us (and thanked them for the 90-day offer), but said we would be back in touch, hopefully next year when supplies, once again, start to dwindle.

Well done, and a Unit Citation, for all the OTS volunteers. None of this would be possible without you.