Chamber, Marines tout strong bond at Albany breakfast

ALBANY — The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce honored military personnel on Wednesday during its Military Appreciation Rise N Shine Breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn on downtown. The annual event is held to bring military together with the business community.

“We can’t say thank you enough for their dedication and sacrifice,” said Tommy Clark, chairman of the chamber board. “We are eternally grateful.”

“A strong bond between the base and the Albany community has continue for more than 50 years,” Col. James C. Carroll III, commanding officer of the Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base, said in a brief address. “One of my top priorities is to ensure that we continue to strive in that same manner. Without your support, the strength of the base would not be what it is.”

Maj. Gen. Craig Crenshaw, commanding general of LOGCOM (Marine Corps Logistics Command), called the event and the mutual support of military and community “huge.”

“Thank you for your warm commitment,” Crenshaw said. “This is huge. It’s great to go to an organization where we see this level of commitment and support for the base.”

According to Barbara Rivera Holmes, interim president and CEO of the chamber, MCLB-Albany employs nearly 5,000 people and provides an impact of $1.6 billion, making the base a “powerhouse” for the Marine Corps and for the city of Albany.

“That’s significant for our community and region,” Holmes said. “We are proud that this base calls Albany home.”

Specials honors at the event went to Sgt. Steven McGahee, as Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, and Lance Cpl. Ethan Kortie, Marine of the Year.

According to Leland Burkart, chair of the Military Affairs Committee at the chamber, McGahee joined the Marine Corps in 2009 from Macon and now holds the billet of postal non-commissioned officer, directly responsible for the dispatch of more than 2,085 official mail pieces totaling over $3,900 in postage, and has maintained over $219,000 of postal equipment and software.

McGahee supervises 57 different mail rooms aboard MCLB-Albany and has successfully trained 24 mail orderlies in proper mail-handling procedures, Burkart said. In spare time McGahee volunteers his time for both the civilian community and his Marines.

“This is a humbling experience,” McGahee said after receiving the award. “I enjoy being a Marine and waking up every day and serving my country. Every branch of the Marines is the best and I want to be a part of it. The award just shows that the work I do is paying off.”

Kortie, from Greenville, S.C., became a Marine in 2013, Burkart said, and holds the billet of administrative specialist with the Adjutant’s Office for MCLB-Albany.

According to Burkart, Kortie is responsible for the processing of over 1,800 naval correspondence and over 180 personnel awards. He’s volunteered over 45 hours of his time, conducting community service events in the area for Habitat for Humanity and completing 30 military funeral details.

“It feels really great to be here,” Kortie said. “A lot of my NCOs (non-commissioned officers) received the award before me, so I wanted to emulate the leadership they imparted to me, to fill the same roles and pass it on to the Marines after me.”

As a musical tribute to military men and women, local businessman and musician Bo Henry and his sister Kristin Culpepper performed Henry’s composition of “Heros.” The music was accompanied by a special video produced by WFXL-TV.