Joint Base Lewis-McChord officials inducted three members of the local community into the installation's Civilian Hall of Fame Aug. 5 in a ceremony at the American Lake Community Center.

Vicky Mohler, Michael Fried and Denise Dhane were selected by senior I Corps and installation officers for induction due to their outstanding contributions and service throughout the community, said Maj. Gen. John D. Johnson, interim commander of I Corps.

"This whole program is important to us because every day when I'm out and around, I run into our fellow citizens who are looking for opportunities to extend a hand to soldiers," Johnson said. "It's the people like the ones we're recognizing today, and the elected officials in our local area, and those who were inducted before, who take the time to step forward and organize the effort. That's really the key."

The Civilian Hall of Fame was created to permanently recognize and thank men and women in the communities around the base who work to benefit servicemembers, their families, the installation and the armed forces. Nominees may include business leaders, heads of civic organizations, local government leaders or any individuals who have shown great support for Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

"We all have the same passion, and that's what I think drives us all," said Mohler, who founded and now manages and promotes "Support America's Armed Forces," an organization that supports the health, welfare and morale of deployed troops. "Each time we collaborate with the other business partners (for a military support event), we do some brainstorming and we say, ‘Hey why don't we do this? Why not?' And we make it happen. People just come together."

Mohler also organized "Operation Santa" in 2004, which sent more than 900 Christmas stockings to her son's Marine battalion and co-located military troops during his deployment to Iraq, which led to a nonprofit program supporting servicemen and women in all branches of military.

"I'm quite surprised and totally honored to be one of these inductees," she said. "It's totally unexpected. I am humbled, I am honored, and for me it is a lifetime achievement."

Fried, a retired chief warrant officer, volunteers his time as an assistant and mentor to the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade.

"This is unbelievable ... what an honor to be inducted," said Fried, who retired in 1996 after 42 years of uniformed service. "What can I say? I love it, I love it, I love it."

Dhane started "Operation Make a Soldier Smile" with her husband, John, in 2005. The organization coordinates donations from individuals, churches, civic groups and businesses throughout the area. In 2010, "Operation Make a Soldier Smile" produced 7,500 "welcome home" packages for JBLM servicemembers returning from deployment.

"The acknowledgement is very nice," Dhane said of the induction. "It doesn't validate that you're making a difference, but it's nice that people really notice in a big way that there is a difference being made."

Much like Mohler, Dhane said a lot of credit should also go to those who donate time and give to her organization.

"People that have the same vision, and you're all connected," Dhane said. "That's what makes a difference. Everybody that jumps on the bandwagon has the same mission and that mission is (providing for) soldiers and making them happy and making them smile. That's my mission."  With the latest induction, the JBLM Civilian Hall of Fame, which is displayed at I Corps headquarters, now features 15 members of the civilian community.