George Breece, executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP), was recognized August 23 by the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, North Carolina, for his many contributions to the community.
The Fayetteville chamber of commerce awarded Breece, a longtime Fayetteville resident, with the George W. Breece Lifetime Achievement Award. He was recognized for his civic involvement in Cumberland County, Fort Bragg, and Fayetteville area that spans over five decades.
Breece’s achievements include active military service during the Vietnam War, serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives, founding NAAOP, and serving on many local boards and committees as a member and chairman.
“It’s humbling, and when I accepted the award, I said, ‘I accept this on behalf of anyone who has volunteered in this community,’” said Breece. “You know, so many people do so many good things, and they never get recognized. And what’s important in life is that when you do good, you don’t look for recognition, you don’t seek it. You just do what you’ve got to do.”
Two days were also named in Breece’s honor by the city and county, marking his birthday, July 20, and August 23 as George Breece Day.
Breece is also the recipient of other awards acknowledging his mark on the community, including the Cumberland County Cares Award, Fort Bragg Good Neighbor Award, and the Army’s Patriotic Civilian Service Award.