Joey Rizzolo "Freedom Walks" His Way to an Exceptional Public Service Award

This is Jen DuBois with OSD Community Relations and Public Liaison, sharing a story of troop support from yesterday at the Pentagon.Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Robert T. Hastings, left, presents the certificate for the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service to Joey Rizzolo, a 7th grader from Paramus, N.J., at the Pentagon, May 6, 2008. Rizzolo was awarded the medal for his support of Americas's servicemembers and his ASY Freedom Walk contributions. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess

On Monday, Joey Rizzolo was named one of America‘s top ten youth volunteers for 2008, receiving the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. On Tuesday, he visited the Pentagon to receive the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. Who knows what this 13-year-old from Paramus, N.J. will do tomorrow!

As Senior Airmen Casey Stanley gave the call to orders causing the room to rise to its feet and stand at attention, Joey stood on the platform, looking only a little shy for all the eyes that were on him. By the time Senior Airmen Stanley finished listing his accomplishments, the shyness had faded behind a slight smile, suggesting the young man’s own modest sense of accomplishment. As he stood before Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Robert T. Hastings while his medal was pinned on, his average adolescent height seemed quite full-grown.

Among many other accomplishments, Joey was being recognized for his various efforts in support of servicemembers. He has volunteered hundreds of hours of his time working with Operation Goody Bag to send a “taste of home” to deployed military members. He also, at his own initiative, took the idea of the America Supports You FreedomWalk and turned it into what will likely become a local tradition in his hometown of Paramus. What strikes one about the story of his ASY Freedom Walk planning, referenced in the book he recently published “20 Steps to a Freedom Walk,” is that he not only got the project rolling but also carried the project through to completion through much of his own personal hard work and leadership.

At the end of it all, he stood quietly before the room and graciously thanked his parents, teachers, and friends for all their support, but he was the one to be thanked, for his example of passion backed by hard work to support a cause he believes in—America’s men and women in uniform.