News Release

Diane and Laurence Maul Presented with President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award

Acting Superintendent Nick Huck and Senior Law Enforcement Ranger Kyle Greene presented Laurence and Diane Maul with the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award.

NPS Photos/Cate Blanch

News Release Date: April 20, 2023

Contact: Jessica Pope, 520-387-6849 X7301

Ajo, Arizona – Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Acting Superintendent Nick Huck and Senior Law Enforcement Ranger Kyle Greene presented Laurence and Diane Maul with the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday, April 20, 2023. Larry and Diane Maul of Bangor, Maine were recognized for contributing more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  
 
The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes the vital role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity, including their support in preserving public lands. This award honors those volunteers whose service creates positive impacts for communities across the United States. Larry and Diane have each eclipsed over 4,200 volunteer hours at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The Superintendent, Chief Law Enforcement Ranger and staff at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument acknowledge the tremendous effort and dedication that Diane and Larry have exhibited over the past seven years.  

Since 2017, Larry and Diane Maul have travelled from Maine to southwestern Arizona to volunteer at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument cleaning up discarded items left across the landscape from illegal cross border incursions. The pair patrols along roadways and into the park’s rugged wilderness backcountry in search of litter and other objects that have been cast aside. Upon locating such items, they collect the refuse and utilizing freighter packs, they hike their loads out of protected wilderness. This year alone, the Maul’s have collected over 1,000 bags of trash and nearly 2,800 gallon-sized water jugs. Their efforts have been invaluable to preserving the wilderness character of the monument and upholding the National Park Service mission to preserve and protect Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for this and future generations. 

The National Park Service, along with the U.S. Department of the Interior, is celebrating National Volunteer Week from April 16-22. This week we recognize the contributions of the many volunteers who contribute to programs across the nation preserving our natural, historic, recreational, and cultural treasures and resources. Last year, over 167,000 volunteers from across the country contributed over 5.2 million hours of their time and talent for a value of $157 million.  

There are many volunteer opportunities in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Volunteers support the Monument by serving as Campground Hosts/Assistants at Twin Peaks Campground, as custodians with the maintenance division, by assisting the resource management division with the preservation of our natural and cultural resources, and more. To learn more about volunteering at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, visit https://www.nps.gov/orpi/getinvolved/volunteer.htm.