Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Robin N. Stephens, from Georgetown, Ohio, received the American Legion's Spirit of Service Award, Aug. 22, in recognition of her extensive volunteer efforts.

Each year, the American Legion, the nation's largest veterans' organization, presents the Spirit of Service Award to a service member from each branch of the military for volunteer service in their local communities.

American Legion National Commander Charles E. Schmidt presented the award during The American Legion's 99th National Convention at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada. Stephens was honored along with representatives from the other four military services and the National Guard. The annual business gathering of the 2 million-member American Legion also gave them the opportunity to be onstage with Medal of Honor recipient Donald E. Ballard and Brig. Gen. Kevin Vereen, deputy commanding general, operations, U.S. Army Recruiting Command.

"Our nation is fortunate to have such dedicated service personnel as Stephens who represent the very finest our nation has to offer," said Schmidt, who presented Stephens with a membership in The American Legion as part of the award. "For both her military service and her community service, Stephens is a credit to her uniform and to her country. She makes me, and all the other men and women of The American Legion, very proud."

Stephens volunteered 50 days with a total of 624 hours of off duty time to the Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as a Rescue 14 member, which is the largest volunteer-based EMS system in the United States. During this time, she personally responded to 167 emergency 911 calls for emergencies including traumatic injuries, seizures, unresponsive persons, allergic reactions, motor vehicle accidents, domestic violence and pregnancies.

"There's nothing in the world that makes me appreciate life more than my experience of being an EMT (emergency medical technician)," said Stephens. "Being an EMT is a constant reminder of how precious life is."

As an experienced EMT, Stephens was responsible for training 37 students and interns, and was directly responsible for their qualifications as EMTs for the City of Virginia Beach. In addition to staying current and remaining qualified, Stephens completed 15 continuing education semester hours on her own time. Classes included ventilation, pediatric cardiac rate disturbance, stroke, ventricular assist devices, and post-resuscitation care.

"The medical field is constantly changing and it is my responsibility to stay on top of my education in the field and share my knowledge and training with my students and interns," said Stephens. "In this field there is little room for mistakes."

Stephens previously earned the Navy Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal while serving at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Norfolk for her volunteer work as an EMT for the City of Virginia Beach from March 2013 to March 2016.

"Receiving the Navy Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and the Spirit of Service Award means a lot to me because it shows that my command and the Navy recognize and stand behind me in my efforts to give back to my community," said Stephens. "Being nominated was amazing, but when I found out I won, it was an unbelievable feeling. Everything that I earned, I give all thanks to my command and my family. I couldn't have done it without them."

This is the ninth year that The American Legion has sponsored the Spirit of Service Award program.

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