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VING State Family Programs Presents Community Purple Award to La Reine Chicken Shack

The VING State Family Program presents the Community Purple Award to La Reine Chicken Shack (Submitted photo)

The V.I. National Guard State Family Program Office presented the 2021 National Guard Family Program Community Purple Award to the La Reine Chicken Shack on Monday, Aug. 22.

In a small ceremony held at the Joint Force Headquarters facility, Angel E. Diaz Jr.,, veteran and co-owner of the La Reine Chicken Shack, was awarded the Family Program Community Purple Award, which is awarded to organizations and businesses that exemplify the true meaning of the purple concept within the National Family Program by working with and for supporting both Army and Air Guard activities, service members and their families.

“Thanks to you guys, we have the freedom that we have today,” said Diaz. “I am very honored to receive this award. You guys are always looking out for the community, and I am always trying to help, and I am honored to support you guys.”

The VING State Family Program presents the Community Purple Award to La Reine Chicken Shack (Submitted photo)

There to present the award was chief of staff Army Col. Ivan Udell; State Family Programs Director Linda Todman; retired VING Association President Lt. Col. Beresford Edwards; Samuel Sanes, St. Croix administrator, representing Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.; and Alicia Hewitt, Office of Veterans Affairs.

Edwards nominated La Reine Chicken Shack for the Family Program Community Purple Award for its dedicated team, who continuously provide free meals every Veterans Day on St. Croix, and its support to other organizations throughout the community.

“I want to congratulate again La Reine Chicken Shack for supporting those who are serving and those who have pledged to support and defend the constitution of the United States,” said Edwards.

“On behalf of the Honorable Governor Albert Bryan Jr. I want to extend my congratulations to you, Mr. Diaz,” said Sanes. “The fact of the matter is that Angel Diaz and the La Reine Chicken Shack has always supported our community. He has supported everyone with a smile.”

The VING State Family Program presents the Community Purple Award to La Reine Chicken Shack (Submitted photo)

The National Guard Award Program is designed to promote superior performance amongst all volunteers throughout the National Guard and recognize outstanding contributions made by statutory volunteers and organizations. The pogram annually recognizes volunteers in seven categories:

National Guard Family of the Year Award

The Gold Award

Youth Volunteer Award

Extra Mile Award

Youth Development Volunteer Award

Regional Volunteer of the Year Award

Family Program Community Purple Award

The VING State Family Program has been the recipient of four of these awards:

Glenda Richards was the recipient of the Family of the Year Award in 2011.

Julia Joseph Simon was the recipient of the Going the Extra Mile Award in 2016.

Maricia Abraham was the recipient of the Regional Volunteer of the Year Award in 2020.

And now Angel Diaz and Robert Leguillou, owners of the La Reine Chicken Shack, in 2021. This latter award is given to only one recipient annually within the 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia.

“We sincerely thank and appreciate the impeccable service La Reine Chicken Shack provided,” said Todman. “Your generosity and commitment to our service members, their families, and the larger community does not go unnoticed. To be named the only recipient within the 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia is outstanding and highly commendable. We are the cream of the crop.”

The men and women of the Virgin Islands National Guard thanks and appreciates all the support rendered by the community and community partners.

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