First-sergeant father, major mother and daughters named Fort Bragg's Family of the Year
A dual-military husband and wife team and their children were named Fort Bragg's 2022 Family of the Year this month.
Maj. Sarah A. Burlee, 1st Special Forces Command, and her spouse, 1st Sgt. Christopher G. Burlee, with the 82nd Airborne Division's 122nd Aviation Support Battalion, along with daughters Audie Burlee, 10, and Paisley Burlee 9, were awarded the honor on Dec. 1, according to a news release. In addition to the honor, the family received a $1,000 check from USAA and gift baskets and gift cards from event sponsors.
"The strength of this family is built on community and giving back. As a dual military Soldier myself, I wondered where they found all the energy for so many community activities while balancing such demanding careers," 1st Sgt. Burlee's commander wrote in the nomination packet.
One of the many reasons why the Burlee Family was nominated included the family’s initiation of a Girl Scout Troop where they have dedicated hundreds of hours of volunteer service leading the girls and helping them develop tangible skills, the release said. Their two daughters are dedicated members as well, which allows them to serve the community together and bond as a family during troop events, according to the release.
In addition to being a Girl Scout troop leader, 1st Sgt. Burlee organized a blood donation program at the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center and created a Quilts for Valor program with his mother-in-law Linda DeGraw. The program presents soldiers’ newborn children with handmade baby quilts.
“I feel like if we’re serving the community, it’s just giving back to the people who have already given so much to us and then paved the way for us," 1st Sgt. Burlee said during the award ceremony.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fort Bragg's Family of the Year named at ceremony Dec. 1
