San Diego veterans have a chance to shine at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center’s 20th annual San Diego Veteran of the Year Recognition Luncheon at the Scottish Rite Center in Mission Valley Nov. 6.
The luncheon is part of a community outreach program that recognizes the “San Diego County Veteran of the Year,” and presents the Meritorious Support of Veterans Award and Veterans Allegiance Award to organizations around San Diego.
“The purpose is to recognize veterans of the community,” said Will Hays, chairman of the board at the museum. “It’s important because the community needs to recognize that they have a valuable resource in the veteran community. Veterans who have served continue to serve their community.”
The luncheon will include a color guard from local high schools, and several special guests including congressmen, assemblymen and representatives from California’s Department of Veterans Affairs to present the awards. The winners will receive trophies, certificates of recognition and other gifts.
The museum selects San Diego County veteran of the year from a group of veterans nominated by local organizations and people of influence.
The organizations nominate veterans based on their contributions at work, job performance and volunteer work with the community. Each organization submits their nominations to the museum.
The museum awards the Meritorious Support of Veterans Award to a profit organization and awards the Veterans Allegiance Award to a non-profit organization for contributions to active-duty service members and veterans in San Diego County. The organizations can self-nominate, or other groups can nominate them.
A panel of seven judges, some who are former veterans of the year, select the San Diego County Veteran of the Year and the award winners.
The United Veterans Council began hosting the luncheon in 1989 and the museum took over in 2000. Allen Miliefsky, a retired Air Force officer, was the 2008 veteran of the year, and Old Town Trolley and Navy Nurse Corps Association won the veterans awards.
Although the deadline for this year’s nomination is past, organizations can begin putting in nominations for the 2010 veteran of the year beginning July 2010.
With community support, all veterans can begin to take pride in the contributions they’ve made to their country and communities.
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