Master sergeant named Massachusetts Veteran of the Month

  • Published
  • By Andre Bowser
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  State treasurer Tim Cahill named a 58th Aerial Port Squadron reservist the Massachusetts Veteran of the Month March 1.

Master Sgt. Carey-ann Patterson, a civilian nurse, earned the honor after being nominated by fellow nurses at her hospital.

The 17-year Air Force veteran has worked in the medical field for 15 years, recently reaching the milestone of becoming a registered nurse.

Sergeant Patterson received her associate's degree in nursing while she worked at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Mass. Last February, she took her nursing boards and successfully passed as a registered nurse.

Sergeant Patterson is the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Air Terminal Operation Center in the 58th Aerial Port Squadron leading Airmen in what she described as a challenging task.

"We are the eyes and ears of the (aerial) port," Sergeant Patterson said. "We work as the hub of information flow between the aircraft and the port."

Mr. Cahill said honoring Sergeant Patterson's work in the state as a civilian extended to her work in the Air Force Reserve.

"It is a great honor to recognize" Sergeant Patterson, Mr. Cahill said, also acknowledging others who serve in the Reserve. "We owe these men and women a debt of gratitude."

Sergeant Patterson, who has a long record of deployments to the Middle East, including serving there in 2002 and 2004, is preparing for a deployment to Iraq this year.

State offers bonuses to veterans returning from deployments

Mr. Cahill announced that Massachusetts is striving to honor veterans who serve in overseas areas of conflict through a "Welcome Home Bonus," which is a tax-free cash payment available to eligible U.S. service members and administered through his office.

"Our goal is to make all eligible service members aware of this program," he said, noting that the program provides a bonus to service members called to active duty service since September 11, 2001.

The state treasurer's office announced that Sergeant Patterson also received the bonus along with her Veteran of the Month honor. To date, more than 19,000 applications have been approved.

For more information about the "Welcome Home Bonus" program, contact the Westover Airman and Family Readiness Center at 413-557-3024, or for an application visit the state treasurer's Web site at www.mass.gov/treasury.