Pam Hamalainen, president of Veterans Affairs of Dawson County, was surprised last month when she received a certificate from Gov. Nathan Deal appointing her "Lieutenant Colonel, Aide De Camp Governor's Staff formed for the defense of the State."

"It was very unexpected. I was humbled, I didn't feel I had done that much," she said.

Dawson County Commission Chair Mike Berg officially presented it to her Friday at the Dawson County Government Center.

"It's a great honor for her and it's a great honor for the county. We are one of the few in the state that are recognized, and primarily because of Pam. She does such a wonderful job. You see her organizing all the time," he said.

Pam said she shares this honor with the affair's board of directors and veterans.

"There is no ‘I' in team. We have all worked very hard to honor and respect our veterans and active military through Memorial Day services, welcome-home ceremonies and Veterans Day celebrations in Dawson County and throughout the state," she said in a statement.

"It is because of all our other veterans that we put our heart and soul into all we do."

Hamalainen has been involved in Veterans Affairs of Dawson County for eight years.