Master Sgt. Charles Ells speaks after receiving the 1st Lt. Thomas E. Wortham IV Award Oct. 27 at Joint Force Headquarters in Madison, Wis. Ells serves as a watch supervisor in the air traffic control tower and radar approach control at Volk Field, and also serves as the president of the Camp Douglas village board. Ells successfully lobbied for a $750,000 grant that the village will use to build a new community center, and for years has organized the Camp Douglas Armed Forces Day. The 1st Lt. Thomas E. Wortham IV Award recognizes excellence in military and community service, and honors the legacy of a Wisconsin Army National Guard veteran who was tragically killed in 2010 fighting off an armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Wortham was also a Chicago Police Officer and volunteered in various community organizations. Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs photo by Vaughn R. Larson