Jun 25, 2022

1st Infantry Division Hosts Big Red One Year of Family Award Ceremony

Posted Jun 25, 2022 4:03 AM
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Niave Knell (left), 1st Infantry Division senior mission commander, presents retired U.S. Army Master Sgt., Dr. Jerome Kinzie (right) with the 1st Infantry Division Volunteer Recognition Award during the 1st Family Volunteer Award Recognition Ceremony at Victory Chapel on Fort Riley, Kansas, June 23, 2022. 1ID recognized the volunteers as part of the Big Red One Year of Family, a campaign to show appreciation for Families’ contributions to the Big Red One Family, the Fort Riley community, and the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Holladay, 19th Public Affairs Detachment)
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Niave Knell (left), 1st Infantry Division senior mission commander, presents retired U.S. Army Master Sgt., Dr. Jerome Kinzie (right) with the 1st Infantry Division Volunteer Recognition Award during the 1st Family Volunteer Award Recognition Ceremony at Victory Chapel on Fort Riley, Kansas, June 23, 2022. 1ID recognized the volunteers as part of the Big Red One Year of Family, a campaign to show appreciation for Families’ contributions to the Big Red One Family, the Fort Riley community, and the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Holladay, 19th Public Affairs Detachment)


The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley hosted its second Big Red One Year of Family (BYOF) 1st Family Award Recognition Ceremony on June 23 at the installation's Victory Chapel.

The ceremony honored 14 Big Red One affiliated Families for their volunteer efforts and continued support to the Soldiers and Families of 1ID and Fort Riley.

"The Families we are recognizing have gone above and beyond the call of duty by giving their own personal time to make a positive and enduring impact within our community," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Niave Knell, the 1ID senior commander. "It's only fitting that we take a minute to pause and recognize them for their actions."

Each award recipient was selected and nominated by their respective brigade command teams.

The awardees were Erin Kelly and Beckah Flanick, from 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1ID; Haley Watters and Gianna Fernandes, from 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1ID; Aaron Serra and Melanie Osbourne, from 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1ID; Frances Roth and Alexis Bonn, from Sustainment Brigade, 1ID; Sgt. Christopher Putnam, Breanne Putnam, and Ronnie Frazee,
from 1st Division Artillery; Rebekah Weinrich and Penny Marvin, from U.S. Army Garrison - Fort Riley; Yessica Vasquez from Irwin Army Community Hospital; and Dr. Jerome Kinzey from Dental Health Activity.

The goal of the campaign is to develop stronger, more resilient 1ID Families and Soldiers, and increase operational readiness to accomplish any mission the Nation calls on the Big Red One to undertake.