Dracut, MA – October 2, 2017 – By Amaris Castillo
A Dracut woman has received the fourth highest public service decoration that the United States Department of the Army can award to a civilian.
Sue Katz, has earned the Commander’s Award for Public Service by the Department of the Army (one of three military departments within the U.S. Sue KatzDepartment of Defense, within which the U.S. Army is organized) for her work as a community outreach coordinator and certified credit counselor with American Consumer Credit Counseling, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering consumers to achieve financial management through credit counseling, debt management, and more.
“It’s nice to be recognized, but I love what I do,” Katz said about the honor received on Aug. 2 at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford. “I love my job.”
Katz’s award is in recognition of her strong support of active duty, National Guard, reserve personnel and veterans over the past eight years — particularly as it relates to providing vital financial education and military housing services, according to a release.
“I am available for any veterans or active service to contact if they need help,” Katz said. “That’s my biggest thing.”
Her passion for the military is personal.
“My father served, my grandfather served, my nephew’s serving now and I think our military and our veterans deserve everything that we can give back to them,” Katz said, adding that her father served in the Korean War and her grandfather served in World Wars I and II.
“They’re protecting yours and my life.”
Steve Trumble, president and CEO of American Consumer Credit Counseling, said in a statement that Katz’s award is a tremendous honor.
“Sue is dedicated and has provided critical financial education resources to so many servicemen and women in recent years,” his statement reads. “We’re honored to have her as part of our organization.”
Matt Paradise, who works with Katz, said one word to best describe her is passionate.
“In a lot of ways it’s part of who she is,” he said. “It’s less of a job and really being able to dive in with the heart, soul, and mind… and helping to provide help to those who need it.”
