VISION AWARD DINA DILLON

Veteran’s work with youth earns recognition from the community and her family

Story by Dalondo Moultrie

Photos by The Seguin Gazette & courtesy Dina Dillon

Before Dina Dillon’s son reached his teens, he learned of the Young Marines organization and decided to join.

Her son’s experience and more led to her volunteering with the organization, said Dillon, Guadalupe Valley Young Marines unit commander. Little did the U.S. Navy Veteran know, the chance encounter would develop into a decades-long passion for her that she still cultivates to this day.

“It was the best decision I could’ve ever done and still doing,” Dillon said. “There are so many memories being in the program and volunteering that I am so glad I’m doing it.”

Now, that volunteerism and more have led to a specific honor.

Dillon has been named one of this year’s VISION Award winners.

The Seguin Gazette presents VISION (Volunteers in Service in Our Neighborhoods) Awards annually, along with the Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year Award.

Chandler Dillon nominated his mother, Dina, for this year’s award.

“Dina volunteers most of her time to the Young Marines program helping youth in our community, promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle,” Chandler said in his nominating form. “She has received the national Fulcrum Shield award given by the U.S. Department of Defense for her commitment to Red Ribbon Week.”

Dina’s work in the community does not end with Young Marines, Chandler said. She supports military service men and women in the Guadalupe County area, he said.

“She also volunteers for almost every single veteran event in the community on top of taking care of her disabled husband,” Chandler said. “She is very deserving of this award and is nuts about Seguin.”

Also on the volunteer front, Dina serves as Seguin Premier Toastmasters’ vice president of public relations and media. She’s gone through the Seguin Police Department Citizens Police Academy and served on band booster and athletic booster clubs in the Navarro ISD.

Learning that someone nominated her for the award, and the fact that she actually was chosen as a VISION Award winner, means a lot, Dina said.

“I’m totally excited,” she said. “I feel giddy inside. It’s, like, oh my God because she said somebody nominated me.

“That’s kind of exciting that somebody’s thinking about me that I’m doing something good.”

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