Why the Beyond the Call of Duty Award?

I meet women veterans all the time who are providing a positive impact in our communities and who I feel should be recognized. A few years ago (pre-covid) I put together the Beyond the Call of Duty Award to recognize these women in the Greater Sacramento area. One for a woman veteran and one for active duty, guard, or reservist. Hopefully, we will get to a point where we receive so many nominations that we will need to separate out the active duty, guard, and reservist into their own category. We are not there yet. 

If you or someone you know has gone Beyond the Call of Duty - either personally or professionally - we want to know.

It’s hard not to tear up as I am writing this.

August 26th of 2021, was an awful and bloody day in Kabul as multiple suicide bombings at the airport killed 11 U.S. Marines and a Navy corpsman. One of those Marines was, Sgt. Nicole Gee who graduated in 2016 from Oakmont High School in Roseville. Only a few days prior she posted a photo on Instagram that showed her holding a baby at that airport. She added a simple, profound comment: "I love my job”.

I and many others attended the memorial service in Roseville where family and friends spoke, which I know was so hard. Listening to them speak about this amazing 23 old woman and how she loved helping people, I said to myself she is what the Beyond the Call of Duty Award is. I set out to find and speak with her sister, which I did as I wanted to ask her permission to honor Nicole every year by naming the Beyond the Call of Duty Award in her name. In December 2021 at our Gala her aunt, sister, and brother law attended, and we presented them with the award. We will continue to honor her and all that have made the ultimate sacrifice.