Keesler NCO is Air Force winner of American Legion service award Published June 23, 2010 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Staff Sgt. Edward Perez Jr. is the Air Force recipient of this year's American Legion Spirit of Service Award. Sergeant Perez is an airfield systems technician in the 85th Engineering Installation Squadron. He joined the Air Force in October 2002 and arrived at Keesler in February 2007. Sergeant Perez received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award last year from the City of Gulfport for 400 hours of service to the community. As a Salvation Army volunteer, Sergeant Perez led a four-month food and clothing drive that provided critical goods to 18,000 Gulf Coast families. He piloted the organization's 750,000 square foot warehouse move, relocating 50 tons of equipment and saving $240,000 in rental costs annually. He also was the base project officer for the organization's annual holiday toy roundup. Sergeant Perez coordinated three area collection points for the Toys for Tots campaign. He was a program coordinator for the Meals on Wheels program and led an 18-member team with cold weather shelter preparation for the American Red Cross. He also volunteered at Loaves and Fishes, a Biloxi facility that provides meals for needy members of the community. As an International Relief and Development volunteer, Sergeant Perez mentored 150 troubled youth on essential mental and physical wellness. He also chaired a local drive for Mississippi's Youth Build program which provided quality-of-life items for drug-addicted teens. Sergeant Perez was a science fair judge at an Ocean Springs elementary school, organized six youth activities for Beauvoir Elementary School's fall festival and conducted tutoring sessions for 16 students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Sergeant Perez coordinated a community Spanish Heritage Festival and works with Back Bay Mission's El Pueblo relief team for the homeless. He led an eight-member team in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life fundraiser, participated in a breast cancer 5-kilometer walk/run, coached a Gulfport youth softball team and supported the Gulfport Veterans of Foreign Wars by marching in its annual Veterans Day parade. Sergeant Perez completed 100 hours of training to be certified as a victim advocate to assist families with crisis mediation. At Keesler, Sergeant Perez is a co-founder of the Airman's Council, vice president of his squadron's booster club, unit blood drive representative, unit physical training leader, varsity softball team member and an air show volunteer.