MIAMI --
The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce hosted the
26th Annual Military Service Person of the Year Awards at Jungle Island here,
July 10, recognizing Sgt. Aisha S. Shapiro Kinghorn, an administrative clerk
with U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, as this year’s Marine Corps recipient.
The Chamber’s board of trustees selected service members
for the award based on their individual accomplishments and volunteer service
to the Miami community.
Shapiro volunteered for the South Florida Special
Olympics, where she coached events in track and field and soccer. She also served as a coordinator for the Keys
100 Race, which is an annual community race along U.S. Highway 1. Shapiro assisted in coordination t of staging
areas, hydration stations, and vehicle check points for the 100 mile venture.
Shaprio also helped raise money for local charities
by volunteering to work at the Doral PGA Tournament.
U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., the
assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and key note speaker,
noted that military service member have no monopoly on public service, though
their contributions should not go unnoticed.
Harris noted of the more than 42 million American
who have served and more than 1 million who have died in service to their
country, America is the country it is because of the heroes, past and present,
who serve their county and community in and out of uniform.
Shaprio was one of eight service members recognized
at the ceremony for their contributions to the greater Miami community.