The 2020 NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola is more than just a military appreciation platform — it’s a campaign that salutes all who have gone above and beyond to keep their fellow members of society safe and healthy. During a global pandemic that has impacted almost every aspect of our daily lives, they have been there for us — doctors, nurses, EMTs, first responders, etc. Now, it’s our turn to be there for them, and to give recognition where it‘s deserved the most.
In this edition of NASCAR Salutes Refreshing Moments, we’re highlighting the work of U.S. Army Colonel Sheryl Bedno and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Malakai Mumui at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
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As the Director of Womack Army Medical Center‘s Department of Public Health, Col. Bedno organized a regional working group of health care professionals from the state, eight counties, several universities, military and other public and private organizations. This group discussed and planned how to react to an outbreak of COVID-19 in North Carolina.
Staff Sgt. Mumui serves as a medical sergeant in the XVIII ABN Corps Surgeon‘s Office. He was a key figure in the tracking and distributing of Operation Dragon Mask as well as the purchase and delivery of materials to the installation quarantine/isolation facility — an effort the U.S. Army undertook to create personal protective equipment (PPE) in the COVID-19 response.
Staff Sgt. Mumui‘s tracking of mask requests and the distribution of those informed the Commanding General of which units were requesting masks as well as identifying the demand for the masks both on and off of Fort Bragg. In addition, his efforts in support of quarantine and isolation operations — such as that of FOB Patriot for returning paratroopers — improved the quarantine experience for hundreds of soldiers.
For the first time ever, NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola kicked off with the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as the platform shifts to a mid-summer window because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola, which runs through July 31, will see the NASCAR industry honor United States Armed Forces and frontline healthcare heroes as part of this year‘s expanded program — an industry-wide opportunity to recognize and thank those who have gone above and beyond to keep society safe and healthy.
