Airman coined for acts of kindness Published April 16, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Emerald Ralston 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- A compassionate senior airman was recognized in a surprise coining ceremony for going above and beyond to help a man in need. Senior Airman Roxanne Raymond, 341st Operations Group, lives next door to an elderly war veteran. She retrieves and delivers his mail regularly and uses that opportunity to offer a smile or share some light conversation. "This man lives by himself," said Airman Raymond. "He can't leave the house, even for holidays. For someone like that, it's social interaction that keeps him going." Airman Raymond also lives alone so she can relate easily to his situation. "I chat with him as I drop off his mail and we exchange Air Force and Army stories," she said. "To have someone around to talk to can give him a little hope in his life and let him knows that people do care." Airman Raymond volunteers frequently in the community and is currently vice president of the Airman's Council. She joined the Air Force soon after her graduation from high school in Marlette, Mich., and she intends to make the Air Force a 20-year career. She recently retrained into information management, after an allergy to latex gloves made it impossible for her to continue working at the dental clinic. "The day I got my retraining was one of my best Air Force moments," Airman Raymond said. "People really pushed for me to get retrained and it showed that people really cared about me doing everything they could to make sure I stayed in and got retrained." "Being shown that kind of compassion makes it easy to pass it on to a neighbor, "Airman Raymond said. "It's also very touching that my neighbor called my commander," Airman Raymond said. "And that Col. Gilson went to the trouble of coining me at the OG meeting. He didn't have to do that - he could have just as easily said 'good job' in passing."