Navy League honors Pacific Air Forces spouse

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Allison Day
  • PACAF Public Affairs
HONOLULU, Hawaii --  The spouse of a firefighter at Pacific Air Forces was honored by the Navy League during a ceremony at City Hall, Honolulu, Hawaii Oct. 15 and then recognized for being an outstanding key spouse before fans at the University of Hawaii football game at the nearby Aloha Stadium .

Melissa McGuire, spouse of Staff Sgt. Lawrence McGuire, from the 647th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, provided outstanding support as a key spouse to families of deployed members of the squadron.

"I was nervous and very excited," Mrs. McGuire said. "It was a true honor to be given such a great award."

Mrs. McGuire, who has been a key spouse for 18 months, enjoys it.

"I love it when the ladies I check on tell me thank you for calling them," she said. "They are glad that someone cares about their husbands being deployed. Recently, I was at the birth of a baby of one of the ladies in the squadron while her husband was on his way home from his deployment. It's very gratifying to help in any way."

It was Mrs. McGuire's turn along with seven other outstanding key spouses to know that the Hawaii Navy League cares about what they do. The award they received has been given annually beginning in 2004 and includes a scholarship check for $1000.

"The Navy League is pleased to present this award to show our appreciation for what these spouses do to support the families on the home front," said Melvin Ing, Hawaii Council Navy League managing director. "Our personnel face daily pressures associated with protecting our country and these dedicated spouses help to relieve some of their burdens and worries."

The league also invited Mrs. McGuire to attend the football game where she was recognized prior to the game by military and civilian leaders.

"It was wonderful being out on the field," said Mrs. McGuire. "We were all introduced to the fans and congratulated. We had great seats right in the end zone of the home team."

Mrs. McGuire and her family are preparing to permanently change duty stations in January to Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

"I will always support my husband's squadron and the spouses of those that are deployed," said Mrs. McGuire. "I think that it is important to take care of those families who are left back at home. I have had people take great care of my kids and me while my husband has been gone, so I love to pay it forward."