Albany Area Chamber of Commerce honors Marines at Military Appreciation Breakfast

ALBANY — Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany was in the spotlight Wednesday when a large crowd gathered for the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Rise N Shine Military Appreciation Breakfast.

“The Marine base is one of Albany’s greatest assets, and is of great importance in the community,”  Ed Newsome, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors said.

Glenn Singfield argreed. “It’s said that you prepare for war in times of peace,” Singfield said, “And we are so grateful to have the base here.

The Marine base employs more than 5,000 people in the region and has an economic impact of more than $1.5 billion on the area.

Col. James Carroll, commanding officer of MCLB-Albany thanked the community for its support. “We have a strong military community and that word is getting out throughout the state,” Carroll said. “I’d like to thank the chamber for welcoming us, and also thank the community for its strong support.”

Maj. Gen. Craig Crenshaw, commanding general of LOGCOM, said the word about Albany’s support is more widespread than most imagine.

“As I look around this room and see the support we have here in this community, I am grateful,” Crenshaw said. “Word has traveled much farther that the state of Georgia. What we have here is a model of the relationship between an installation and its community.”

Crenshaw jokingly added the best thing that had happened since his arrival in Albany was the MCLB team’s April victory in the Salty Sandbagger golf tournament, which handed the chamber’s team its first defeat since spring 2014.

Three individual Marines were honored at the breakfast and given awards by Chamber Military Affairs Committee Chairman Leland Burkhart.

Staff Sgt. Steven McGahee was named Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for MCLB-Albany. Sgt. Darius Warren was honored as Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for Marine Corps Logistics Command. Cpl. Ethan Kortie was named Marine of the Year for MCLB-Albany.