A broad contingent of military personnel, law enforcement officials, family and friends went to Hailey City Hall on Tuesday to honor Margaret D. Springer for her service to the Idaho military.
Brig. Gen. Alan C. Gayhart awarded Springer a Distinguished Service Medal, the second highest service medal in the state, for her outstanding support in service to the military and patriotic service to the community.
Gayhart commanded the 116th Idaho National Guard Cavalry Brigade Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom, supporting rebuilding efforts in the provinces of Kirkuk and Al-Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq.
"This means more than words can say," said Springer, who was simultaneously enlisted in the National Guard as an honorary member.
Springer's father served in the U.S. Marines in Vietnam and later in the 116th. "Maggie" Springer, as she is known by friends and family, has been a Hailey American Legion Auxiliary Unit 24 member since birth. She was unable to join the military due to health problems, but has played the bugle at military services for many American Legion Posts from 1997 to 2005.
"While I can't serve in uniform, I can serve my community, my family and my country," she said.
Springer played a primary role in revitalizing the annual Hailey Memorial Day ceremony in recent years by networking with military officials around Idaho. She has collected donations for the needy and Christmas presents for soldiers, and gathered 1,100 messages of support for New York City firefighters and police following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
A letter, which accompanied the medal, signed by Gov. Butch Otter, the commander in chief of the Idaho National Guard, describes Springer as a "great patriot."
Sept. 1 marks the first day of Operation New Dawn, the latest phase of U.S. military operations in Iraq.
As part of the operation, 340 men and women "citizen soldiers" from all walks of life in southeast Idaho will deploy to Iraq this fall with the 116th Calvary Brigade Combat Team.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
Lifelong Hailey resident Maggie Springer receives the Distinguished Service Medal from Brig. Gen. Alan C. Gayhart on Tuesday. Photo by Willy Cook
