(l to r) Serena Gruba, SSG Leo Gruba and Amber Young, ACU
The
recipient of the John Anderson Award for Military Citizen of the Year is Staff
Sergeant Leo Gruba.
SSG
Gruba’s efforts are focused on different fronts. In 2014, he was selected by
his command to participate in a PBS two-hour special, which allowed the
audience to see the inside of the file of a military member. He and his family allowed cameras and
strangers into their personal lives to record the joys, tears and challenges
that define military families everywhere.
SSG
Gruba is a member of American Legion Post 53 in DuPont. These last two years, he helped with their
annual scholarship program for soldiers, valued at thousands of dollars.
As a
member of the Association of the United States Army, SSG Gruba worked an
estimated 60 hours for Operation Turkey Drop and Ham Grenade for donated gifts
during the holidays to active, Guard and Reserve families.
SSG
Gruba also devoted an estimated 100 hours for time and mentorship at Clhoe
Clark Elementary PTA where he serves as Vice President. He is responsible for
fundraisers and school events for students and families.
He
volunteers time at the Fisher House, which provides a “home away from home” for
families with patients at Madigan Army Medical Center. Similarly, he is the liaison between his command and the Family Readiness
Group, geared toward strengthening the Army Family Concept.
As a
member of the DuPont Historical Society, he volunteered about 60 hours to plan
the movement of the Society’s property from JBLM to the museum.
And,
he is the Wolf Den Leader of pack 472, Boy Scouts of American, volunteering
abut 100 hours.
He
belongs to the Patriots Athletic League, volunteering as machine pitch and tee
ball coach; as a Lion’s Club member he has worked on several projects in
DuPont, including their I-5 “Adopt a Highway” clean-up project.
This
past summer, SSG Gruba worked with DuPont businesses to collect and distribute
comfort items to firefighters and National Guardsmen assisting in the complex
wildfires throughout Washington.
Currently,
he is working with the American Legion to organize a “Veterans Walk” this
December in DuPont.
SSG
Gruba is an excellent selection for the John H. Anderson Military-Citizen of
the Year Award. The many hours he has
donated to our community will be appreciated for years to come.
About
the Award
The Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber's presentation of the John H. Anderson Military Citizen of the Year Award to the
outstanding military was begun to commemorate the civic contributions by our
resident military personnel.
About
John H. Anderson
John
H. Anderson served as Tacoma’s mayor in the early to mid-1950s. He was also a
past Chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board of Directors, as well as a
successful local businessman.
About
the Award Sponsor
America’s
Credit Union has been serving the military here at Joint base Lewis McChord
(JBLM) since 1954; ACU has been active in creating a community that is aware of
soldiers needs and able to serve our military who give so much for all of us. The Award was presented by Amber Young, ACU.
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