Volunteers of America held a Veterans Day service in Lexington’s Phoenix Park Wednesday.
The event honored various Lexington veterans for their service, and stressed the need to care for these soldiers upon their return to civilian life. In addition to remarks by the director of Lexington’s Office of Homeless Prevention, the key attraction was the bestowal of the Ranger Dave Award upon four individuals. VOA Regional Director Anne Vandervort says the award, named for a Desert Storm veteran, honors those who have graduated from VOA’s veterans service programs.
“All have had real life challenges after they returned from the service, different struggles, struggles in addiction, struggles in homelessness, and they came to volunteers of America seeking assistance for housing and addiction, and they’ve all overcome those," she said.
Honorees included servicemembers David Edwards, Raymond Keith, and James Scott of the Army, and Scott Brown of the Navy. The ceremony concluded with a rendition of “Taps,” a benediction by the Salvation Army, and a medley of various service songs.
