California Hero Honored in DC

California Conservation Corps member Chris Thomas has been honored as a 2011 National Corpsmember of the Year in a ceremony at the nation's capitol.

Mr. Thomas, 23, received his award from the national Corps Network organization and is the only honoree from California.

In Washington, Thomas' speech before hundreds of federal and corps representatives prompted several offers of career positions for the accomplished Northern California military veteran.

Chris Thomas also toured Capitol Hill, meeting the distinguished Northern California Congressman Wally Herger (R-Chico) and House Speaker John Boehner.

Thomas has been with the CCC in Chico for the last two years. He joined the program after serving three tours with the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the Northern Californian was wounded twice.

The California Conservation Corps had promoted Thomas to crew leader before he began work on natural resource projects for the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Water Resources and California State Parks.

The Corps Network, a national organization for service and conservation corps throughout the country, funded the travel and expenses for Thomas' round-trip from Lake County, California to Washington DC.

The California Conservation Corps is a state agency hiring young men and women, ages 18 to 25, for a year of natural resource work and emergency response.  It is a quality program of which my own sister is a past member.

The CCC was started in 1976 by California Governor Jerry Brown and is more successful than ever today.

Mr. Thomas is the son of a very proud Jean Bolding of Clearlake Oaks, where Lake County residents are excited that one of their own was honored at the U.S. Capitol.

This California blog joins all proud Californians in celebrating Chris Thomas as an outstanding young hero who represents the Golden State with dignity and honor.