JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
The Pete Taylor Partnership of Excellence Award is given to select organizations annually in recognition of successful partnerships and projects that benefit military-connected children. This year, Joint Base San Antonio and the 502nd Security Forces Squadron received the honor in the category of community outreach for their support of Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
“We are here to celebrate the wonderful partnership Fort Sam Houston Elementary School has with the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston community,” said Laura Lamoureux, a teacher and coordinator of the official partnership, during a presentation ceremony Sept. 15, 2022.
The Military Child Education Coalition, or MCEC, sponsors the award, in honor of retired Lt. Gen. H.G. “Pete” Taylor, to recognize outstanding schools, installations, and individual program achievements. Winners are chosen because they reflect Taylor’s belief that “goodness starts at the local level.”
Accepting the award on behalf of JBSA was Brig. Gen. Russell Driggers, JBSA and 502nd Air Base Wing commander. Accepting for Security Forces was their commander, Lt. Col. James Hewett. Law enforcement officers from the Schertz Police Department were also in attendance.
From National Preparedness Month emergency identification kits and fingerprinting for kindergarten and first grade students to summer safety stand-down sessions for fourth and fifth graders, Lamoureux said JBSA Security Forces, as well as local community law enforcement agencies, have been there to educate children on the many aspects of safety in their daily lives, including internet and social interaction safety.
“While we have always had the support of JBSA and the 502nd Security Forces, the new official partnership we have has brought several new events to the school’s campus, including opportunities for women in law enforcement to visit and become role models.” Lamoureux said. “We are extremely proud of the outreach we have accomplished together to meet the needs of all our students.”