HONOLULU -- “I don’t do it for myself; I do it because it brings happiness. That bond that you create is something no one can ever take away from you,” said the 25-year old Marine.
Sgt. Jonathon McDonald, a motor transport operator with Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific has been named the Marine Corps’ 2015 Outstanding Community Service Honoree for the State of Hawai’i.
“One of the highlights of Military Appreciation Month is that the Military Affairs Council partners with the State and military to recognize service members in Hawai’i, who have gone above and beyond their call of duty serving our nation by dedicating their free time to serving our Hawai’i community,” said David Carey, the President and CEO of Outrigger Enterprises, and the Chair of the Military Affairs Council.
Every May in Hawai’i marks Military Appreciation Month.
McDonald works weekly with organizations on the island; mostly ranches. One of the things he does is for set up horseback riding events for special needs children. Although he loves volunteering on the island, it hasn’t always been that way.
“When he first got here, he would say ‘it’s nothing like home, there’s nothing to do here’,” said Ms. Tracey Ford, the Protocol Officer for MARFORPAC. “So I asked him what he did back home, and he said that he worked with horses and at rodeos.”
Ford introduced McDonald to the organizations he now helps and consequently, got him recognized today by Hawai’i State Gov. David Ige.
As for continuing work volunteering, McDonald said, “My goal is to volunteer at as many places as I can, and continue to help others around me grow.”
When the Fowler, Colorado native was asked why he does it, his response was short and to the point.
“Putting a smile on children’s faces, that is the reward in itself,” said McDonald.