MILITARY Gjede, wife were running for U.S. Air Force award
Gjede said it was an 'honor beyond belief' to be nominated.
VIENNA -- Brig. Gen. Michael Gjede and his wife, Jerlynn, were among nine couples in the Air Force who competed for the 2004 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award.
The award recognizes the wing commander and spouse team whose contributions to the nation, Air Force and local community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership of a military couple in a key Air Force position. This year's recipients are Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Dana T. Atkins of Misawa Air Base, Japan.
"Just to be the couple nominated by the 22nd Air Force and then the Air Force Reserve Command is an honor beyond belief. Community involvement is important and having Jerlynn as my teammate makes it a pleasure," said Gjede, who is retiring June 30.
Joint sponsors
Since becoming commander of the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station since March 1998, Gjede and his wife have been joint sponsors of the annual Joint Services Youth Camp at the base for children of military members. Mrs. Gjede was instrumental in establishing the wing's Pilot for a Day program, and Gjede serves on the board of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Trumbull County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Together, the couple has hosted the Red Cross MASH BASH fund-raiser that raised about $10,000 this year.
Along with the Marine Corps Reserve Center on base, the Gjedes have coordinated the storage and transportation of more than 250,000 donated books for the Books for Mahoning Valley Schools project.