Speaking in front of family and hundreds of people, Master-at-Arms 1st Class (AW) Jessica Buffum accepted the 2014-2015 Salute to Active Duty Servicewomen Award for the Navy from the American Legion Auxiliary at the group's national convention in Baltimore, Sept. 1.

Buffum is currently assigned to the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) where she supports security by patrolling and conducting investigations. She is a graduate of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Law Enforcement School and has served for 13 years.

"The auxiliary ladies are all amazing women who give back to the community and the Veterans," Buffum said. "It was an honor to be a part of what they do and an amazing experience to be recognized and welcomed by them."

The American Legion Auxiliary annually honors a servicewoman from each branch of service for outstanding military service.

It is her volunteer efforts, however, that grabbed the attention of the American Legion Auxiliary after she was nominated for her work coordinating the No Veteran Dies Alone (NVDA) program at Lovell FHCC.

Earlier in the summer, Buffum, a native of Cuba, Illinois, was selected as the auxiliary's Illinois Servicewoman of the Year.

Buffum volunteered to coordinate the NVDA program at Lovell FHCC after a transfer left the program leaderless and in jeopardy of being cancelled, said Kenny List, FHCC's chief of voluntary services.

Buffum recruits and trains new volunteers, sends out updates on the patients' statuses and coordinates volunteers' schedules to ensure Lovell FHCC patients are not alone at their time of death, no matter what the hour.

Buffum also sits with dying patients in their time of need.

"This program is very close to my heart because I can directly impact the lives of Veterans, and it's one of the most rewarding experiences of my life," Buffum said in a separate interview.

List said he nominated Buffum for the award because her work with NVDA has been "remarkable and above and beyond."

"She ensured the continuation of this very important program that is the epitome of patient-centered care," said List, who attended the national award ceremony in Baltimore.

"Under her leadership, the program is thriving and providing a very crucial service to our patients," said List. "Sometimes family members and friends can't be there for a patient's last moments, and that's when the No Veteran Dies Alone volunteers step in."

Master-at-Arms 1st Class (EXW) Cody Rugg said he was not surprised Buffum was selected for the state and national awards.

"When it comes to work itself, Buffum is just outstanding, whether it's the department or junior Sailors that need help, she's a great role model and mentor in the Navy and at the FHCC," Rugg said.

In her speech, Buffum spoke about the importance of working for a greater purpose.

"Whether it means carrying yourself as a great role model for junior Sailors to look up to, or volunteering your spare time to take care of veterans who've gone before you, the feeling you get when you look in the mirror is a great feeling we should all strive to achieve."

For more news from Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, visit www.navy.mil/.