Alabama Collection Agency Shows Appreciation for Soldiers' Sacrifice

The Mobile, Ala. office of accounts receivable management firm West Asset Management (WAM) each year defies the negative publicity collection agencies typically receive with a patriotic deed that gives back to its country, clients and employees.

The program, started and coordinated by Talent Agent Mary Womack and HR Generalist Maria Clements, pays tribute to a soldier from the area who gave the greatest gift anyone could give their country and fellow citizens — their life.

“We care about the loved ones that were lost. We do this to show our appreciation,” Womack told insideARM. “I don’t personally know our honorees, but I feel for the families of the honorees. When you feel so passionately about someone else’s pain or loss, you have a tendency to want to do something. And this is a result of being passionate about so many people that we’ve lost in Iraq and Afghanistan, male or female.”

A WAM committee selects a fallen soldier from the area from a list of soldiers killed in action. That soldier’s family is invited to a ceremony held on the company’s grounds.

WAM, the ARM division of teleservices provider West Corp., gives the soldier’s family a plaque of appreciation for the sacrifice made by their kin, and a photo of the soldier is placed on a memorial wall in the office erected to pay tribute to family members of employees that have fought in war.

The program has commemorated three fallen soldiers since its start in 2007: PVT 1st Class Howard Johnson, II (2007), Specialist Steven Ray Givens (2008) and SSgt Harrison “Duck” Brown, honored the Friday before the most recent Memorial Day holiday.

In addition, the program raises money for calling cards to be dispersed to troops at war, and donates a generous sum to LaFlore High School’s JR.ROTC program. The WAM staff raises the funds through bake sales and other special initiatives.