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NEWS | Feb. 25, 2016

Soldier awarded for selfless service

By Sgt. Christopher Bigelow 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)


GREENSBURG, Pa. - Reminiscing while assisting with the 25th anniversary memorial service for the 14th Quartermaster Detachment in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Feb. 25, 2016, Staff Sgt. Michelle Satterfield, a water treatment operation supervisor with the 14th QM Detachment, recalls an amazing December evening.

In December, Satterfield emerged onto the Heinz Red Zone in the first part of the third quarter of a Steelers game where she thought she was simply being honored as part of the ATI Foundation's Salute to Heroes.

"Running onto the field was a really great experience, I was really excited just to be there," she said. "But then I saw my brother and I was so excited to see him that I didn't notice the key behind me; there was so much to take in, it was a really amazing night."

Presented by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the Pittsburgh Steelers, FedEx, Blueroof Technologies, Tiger Vets and McKeesport High School, Satterfield was presented a key to a three-bedroom, two-bath home due to be completed in April 2016.

Satterfield, who comes from a military family, served two tours in Iraq. She also was activated in 2012 to assist in Hurricane Sandy relief in New York. When her mission was completed, she returned to Pittsburgh, filled a 17-foot truck with donated food, clothing and furniture, and drove back to the devastated area to distribute the items. 

"I just felt that anyone could have found himself or herself in that terrible situation, and it was important to help because it could have been me," said Satterfield.

Satterfield was nominated to receive the home by an area veterans program. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation then considered the nominations, and the Pittsburgh Steelers selected the winner, said John Hodge, the COO of the foundation.

The Tunnel to Towers foundation’s mission is to assist soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has built — or is in the process of building — 46 smart homes for severely disabled soldiers and hope to build 200.
 
According to Hodge, Satterfield’s home and the partnership with Blueroof could serve as a prototype to build smart homes with modular construction because they can be completed in about half the time.

"I'm excited to relocate," says Satterfield.

"I've been a part of the community for a long time now, and living in the area will give my son and I more time to visit friends and family," She added, "I'm so grateful to have been nominated for such an incredible gift and I'm looking forward to beginning a new chapter in my life."