Ritchie Joins 10th Mountain Division Commander to Honor Volunteers at Fort Drum Ceremony

Volunteers Recognized for Nearly 185,000 Hours of Service

State Senator Patty Ritchie joined MG Stephen Townsend Thursday for Fort Drum’s annual Volunteer of the Year ceremony, where volunteers were honored for their 184,770 hours of service on the post last year. 

As the featured guest speaker, Senator Ritchie thanked the more than 50 volunteers being honored for their time and their service.

“These volunteers have made Fort Drum—and the entire North Country—a better place,” said Senator Ritchie. “In addition, they have played the very important role of making life a little better for the men and women who are serving our country.”

“I am proud to represent the men and women of the 10^th Mountain Division, as well as these volunteers who believe and support the mission of our fighting troops.”

Of the honorees, Jennifer Limerick, a Family Readiness Group Volunteer with the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion was recognized as the “Installation Volunteer of the Year.”

Ft. Drum is the largest U.S. Army post in the Northeastern United States, and the 10th Mountain Division is among the Army’s most deployed combat units. 

Senator Ritchie has been a strong advocate for the post, securing budget funding to address a critical, regional housing shortage that threatens continued growth of the facility, and to help protect the post in the event of new federal military budget cuts.

(Pictured in the above photo,  from left to right are COL Gary Roseberg, Senator Patty Ritchie, Jennifer Limerick, Melissa Townsend and Major General Stephen Townsend)