We’re proud today of one of our own: communications technician Ralph Godinez, also known as Staff Sgt. Ralph Godinez of the 728th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Staff Sgt. Godinez was honored today as Citizen-Soldier of the Year by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. Every year, they join with local Kiwanis Clubs to name a Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year. That’s the historic name of the award, though of course the sharp readers out there have already figured that out that someone based at McChord could also be called Citizen-Airman of the Year.
Staff Sgt. Godinez is on leave from Comcast as he serves in the Reserves. As you see in this profile by his one of his colleagues, Master Sgt. Jake Chapelle, Staff Sgt. Godinez is a very, very busy man with his community service.
Comcast, of course, is a big believer in military service. We film and air PSAs for Hire America’s Heroes, an organization that encourages employers to hire veterans. And just a few weeks ago, a Department of Defense agency presented us with an award for supporting another Reservist, this one in Seattle.
I was proud to attend the lunch and hear this accomplished man say these words: “Thank you to Comcast, my civilian employer, and their fantastic treatment and understanding of Reservists. Their flexibility and accommodations go well beyond the requirement of the law.”
Here are comments about Staff Sgt. Godinez and his own comments at the Tacoma chamber event on April 24, 2012.
