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Hale recognized for selfless service
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After her childhood friend’s husband lost his legs after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan, Morrison resident Demetria Hale wasted no time in coming to her aid, beginning what has become an international website aimed at helping wounded warriors.Hale’s efforts in helping the family of Staff Sgt. Chaz Allen and numerous other injured soldiers has earned her the McMinnville Noon Exchange Club’s Humanitarian of the Year Award for selfless service to others.“Because of her efforts we have not only been able to keep people up to date on my husband’s progress, but we have also been able to help numerous other wounded warriors,” said Hale’s childhood friend Jessica Allen, who grew up in McMinnville. “She came up with an idea to help and did it.”Hale’s effort with Team Allen, their website and its fundraising arm, began in January 2011 when Sgt. Allen stepped on the IED while on patrol.“That date will be forever in my mind, when we got the call from the Army,” said Noon Exchange Club president Janice Sherrill, who is the sister of Mrs. Allen. “It’s the call every family dreads getting.”Even as plans were being drafted as to where Sgt. Allen was going to be sent for treatment, Hale contacted her old friend and offered to help.