GyBill
01-27-2007, 19:14
Local man honored for service to vets
By Adam Wise
Daily Tribune Staff
Todd Boudreau might be the most active and helpful man in Nekoosa, but it's unlikely people will hear about it from him.
Boudreau, 40, recently received the Bob Munro Memorial Service to Veterans Award. Boudreau is the first recipient of the award that was named after an exceptionally active Veterans of Foreign Wars member.
"I was surprised," Boudreau said of winning the award. "I didn't think I would win."
Nominated for the award by Jim Strasser, the District 7 community service chairman for the VFW, Boudreau didn't know Strasser thought so highly of him.
"I nominated him because, for the last three years at least," Strasser said, "he has really been the driving force behind our post efforts for the local vets."
Strasser said the award is not just for fellow colleagues.
"It is to honor or recognize people, not necessarily VFW members, but just anybody who gave or did something extraordinary, or out of the way, to assist veterans," Strasser said.
Boudreau is rarely standing still. He works as a Nekoosa firefighter/EMT by day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) before a shift as a Marathon County corrections officer from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
As for sleep, Boudreau doesn't have much time for that.
"Some days you're sleeping; some days you don't," he said. "I usually only sleep four to five hours a day to begin with. Some days you get more, some days you get less."
Munro, a former local commander and state commander, was active in the veterans organization for many years until his death a few years ago.
A veteran of Desert Storm, Boudreau worked as a motorman in the Marines. Once he returned to the area, Boudreau said it was Munro who got him involved in VFW activities.
"He was a great guy, always helpful," Boudreau said. "He was very active in matters to help veterans out, so that's why it's named after him, for all the time and effort."
Boudreau also thanked Capt. Brian Leahy, of the 1-120th Field Artillery in the National Guard, who wrote a letter supporting the nomination.
wisconsinrapidstribune.co m.
By Adam Wise
Daily Tribune Staff
Todd Boudreau might be the most active and helpful man in Nekoosa, but it's unlikely people will hear about it from him.
Boudreau, 40, recently received the Bob Munro Memorial Service to Veterans Award. Boudreau is the first recipient of the award that was named after an exceptionally active Veterans of Foreign Wars member.
"I was surprised," Boudreau said of winning the award. "I didn't think I would win."
Nominated for the award by Jim Strasser, the District 7 community service chairman for the VFW, Boudreau didn't know Strasser thought so highly of him.
"I nominated him because, for the last three years at least," Strasser said, "he has really been the driving force behind our post efforts for the local vets."
Strasser said the award is not just for fellow colleagues.
"It is to honor or recognize people, not necessarily VFW members, but just anybody who gave or did something extraordinary, or out of the way, to assist veterans," Strasser said.
Boudreau is rarely standing still. He works as a Nekoosa firefighter/EMT by day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) before a shift as a Marathon County corrections officer from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
As for sleep, Boudreau doesn't have much time for that.
"Some days you're sleeping; some days you don't," he said. "I usually only sleep four to five hours a day to begin with. Some days you get more, some days you get less."
Munro, a former local commander and state commander, was active in the veterans organization for many years until his death a few years ago.
A veteran of Desert Storm, Boudreau worked as a motorman in the Marines. Once he returned to the area, Boudreau said it was Munro who got him involved in VFW activities.
"He was a great guy, always helpful," Boudreau said. "He was very active in matters to help veterans out, so that's why it's named after him, for all the time and effort."
Boudreau also thanked Capt. Brian Leahy, of the 1-120th Field Artillery in the National Guard, who wrote a letter supporting the nomination.
wisconsinrapidstribune.co m.