Photo By Staff Sgt. Justin McClarran | U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Chad P. Franks, commander, 15th Air Force, discusses the St....... read more read more
ST. LOUIS– Maj. Gen. Chad P. Franks, 15th Air Force commander, visited the state-run, federally-supported Community Vaccination Center (CVC) at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo., April 19, 2021.
Franks toured the CVC to show his appreciation and meet service members and personnel supporting the COVID-19 vaccination effort. Nearly 140 service members, 148 government agency staff members, and volunteers who support the operations of the Type 2 Center are capable of vaccinating 3,000 community members a day.
“We are here to support the state, local and federal agencies,” said Franks. “Our number one priority is to get people vaccinated. This is one of the best missions we can be a part of because we are helping our fellow citizens right here, right now.”
St. Louis’s center is one of eight CVCs in five different states and is the newest center that opened for service members assigned to Task Force-Southeast. While observing operations firsthand, leadership from federal and state agencies, and the Department of Defense discussed the instrumental role teamwork plays in running a CVC.
“We appreciate the partnership,” said James Remillard, director of Missouri’s State Emergency Management Agency. “We couldn't have done this alone.”
Partners from the Federal Emergency Management Agency working side-by-side spoke of the critical value of teamwork.
“Our DoD partners are invaluable members of the team at the Dome. Without them, none of this would be possible,” said DuWayne Tewes, the FEMA site coordinator.
During his visit, Franks also met with the Missouri National Guard.
“We've enjoyed the team atmosphere here. The national response has been encouraging, and the team has been very professional and positive,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Levon E. Cumpton, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard.
Franks dedicated part of his visit to recognizing two outstanding performers.
“It was truly an honor to be recognized for the hard work and dedication our team has done to help support FEMA and the whole-of-government effort against COVID,” said U.S. Navy Hospitalman Alexandra Lee, a Lebanon, Oregon, native stationed at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training (NMRT) Command Camp Pendleton, who works in the CVC pharmacy. “This was a confirmation for me, knowing that I stepped up into a role, and my efforts are making a difference.”
U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Erick Cerna, an Elizabeth, New Jersey, native stationed at the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Detachment St. Louis, who works in the CVC’s patient registration area, also received recognition.
“It's a blessing to be able to make such an impact on the fight against COVID,” said Cerna. “It wasn't just me. It was the whole team that's making this possible.”
The approximately 140-member St. Louis vaccination support team is comprised of Sailors and Marines hailing from three states, and more than six units that make up the team in the CVC.
U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing continued, flexible Department of Defense support to the FEMA as part of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19.
| Date Taken: | 04.19.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2021 12:23 |
| Story ID: | 394251 |
| Location: | ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, US |
| Web Views: | 68 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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