SAN ANTONIO -- In a ceremony on the tarmac of the San Antonio Airport Monday, President Bush paid special honor to Sonya McDonald, vice president of sales operations and marketing Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union, for her fundraising activities on behalf of wounded war veterans.

"It was, of course, a thrill for me and my family to meet the President, and I was appreciative of the honor," said McDonald who won the President's Volunteer Service Award for her work, including raising $217,000 for the Fisher House Foundation and Returning Heroes Home.

Bush, on a whirlwind Texas and Midwest tour to discuss the financial crisis and plug the $700 billion bailout bill, honored McDonald as part of a national program honoring individuals "for making a difference in the lives of others."

McDonald said she got into volunteer work for military vets "since I wanted to do something positive for the community while my husband was deployed to Iraq."

"I am confident that I speak for the entire credit union community when I say Ms. McDonald is more than deserving of receiving an award of this caliber. The tireless commitment and energy she has devoted to this noteworthy cause is to be applauded," said Dick Ensweiler, president/CEO of the Texas Credit Union League.