3 from Keesler nominated for Fredian Award Published Oct. 22, 2008 By Susan Griggs Keesler News staff KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Three enlisted members assigned to Keesler are among the six nominees for the annual Thomas V. Fredian Community Leadership Excellence Award presented at the Salute to the Military by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce. Keesler nominees are Tech. Sgt. Asha Gray and Staff Sgt. Veronica Bird, 335th Training Squadron, and Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Pickett, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit. Sergeants Gray and Bird are both weather forecaster instructors. Petty Officer Pickett is an instructor for the general purpose electronic test equipment calibration and maintenance school and the intermediate level physical/dimensional test and measuring systems calibration school. Sergeant Gray is a weekend center manager for the USO, dispatcher/recorder for Airmen Against Drunk Driving, flight representative for the squadron booster club and squadron representative for Airman's Attic. She led 355 volunteers in building a $50,000 playground in eight hours, raised 6,000 pounds of pet food for the Humane Society of South Mississippi and was a volunteer for Special Olympics, Air Force Aid Society and Combined Federal Campaign. She also led 35 volunteers in placing flags on graves at Biloxi National Cemetery for Memorial Day. Sergeant Bird, recently recognized with the Very Important Patriot Award for volunteerism by the National Military Family Association, served as a volunteer income tax representative, led 35 volunteers in landscaping projects for Make a Difference Day, taught a Red Cross babysitting class and judged science fair projects for a Biloxi public school. She was a team member for the Toys for Tots drive and led a clothing drive for orphans in Kyrgyzstan. As a member of the Keesler 5/6 Association, she arranged a talent show to raise funds for humanitarian relief, led a scholarship fundraiser and organized a project to replace the flags on the Boulevard of Flags at the entrance to the base. Petty Officer Pickett coordinated CNATTU's Personal Excellence Partnership Pro-gram for volunteers at Nichols Elementary School and Biloxi Alternative School and coordinated unit volunteers working with Urban Life Ministries to rebuild six homes and demolish two homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina. He managed unit volunteers for DeSoto National Park's annual cleanup, construction of four KaBoom playgrounds, Special Olympics events, Biloxi's Juneteenth celebration, Humane Society and the Krewe of Ulysses Mardi Gras Ball.