Raymond Freeonan Buggs. Photo: ABS

By THE PULSE NEWS MEXICO STAFF

U.S. Korean War veteran and longtime Mexico City resident Raymond (Ray) Freeman Buggs was the recipient of the American Benevolent Society’s (ABS) 2022 Herbert L. Wallace Lifetime Community Service Award, presented during the society’s 154th Cherry Pie Festival at the U. S. Embassy residence in Mexico City’s Colonia Lomas de Chapultepec on Wednesday, May 4.

The 93-year-old Buggs, originally from Hallsville, Texas, has been involved in English-language and bilingual education, as well as numerous charity and social service organizations, throughout his time in Mexico.

Over the years, Buggs served as commander of the American Legion, president of the University of the Americas Alumni Association and president of the American Society (AmSoc) in Mexico.

In 1994, he was named chair of AmSoc’s Disaster Relief Committee, through which he helped set up centers for receiving donations for victims of the conflict in Chiapas and several natural disasters.

Buggs was also the first African American to become a member of the University Club in Mexico City.

The late Herbert (Herb) L. Wallace, for whom the ABS Lifetime Community Service Award was named, was a pillar of the American community in Mexico City, selflessly devoting his time to civic organizations, including the Salvation Army, the Cosmopolitan Club and the American Benevolent Society.

Also honored at the event was Angela Camacho del Ángel, who received the ABS  Outstanding Employee Award.

The ABS Cherry Pie Festival was hosted by U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath and was attended by over 100 ABS members.

The festival is traditionally held on Feb. 22, Washington’s Birthday, but was delayed this year due to the covid-19 pandemic.