August 20, 2008

Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs seeking nominations for Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award

(MADISON) – The Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs is seeking nominations for its Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented at its meeting on October 17, 2008 in Appleton.

The Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes Wisconsin veterans who have compiled a record of exemplary service as a military service member, a veteran, and as a citizen during the veteran’s lifetime. The October 2008 award recipient will be selected from among nominations received for veterans residing in counties located in the northeast region of Wisconsin (Brown, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca and Wood counties). Nominations for the Board’s October meeting must be postmarked no later than September 15, 2008.

The award is part of the Board’s ongoing efforts to underscore its commitment to taking veterans issues out to where veterans live, work, and enjoy the freedoms of the United States of America and to encourage greater veteran participation in Board of Veterans Affairs meetings.

The Board, through a subcommittee appointed by the Board Chair, selects the recipients from nominations submitted by individuals (including family members of the nominee), veterans service and other organizations, county veterans service officers, and fellow veterans.

Recent recipients of the Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award (VLLA) have been Eugene P. Moran, a World War II veteran from Soldiers Grove (October 2007); Dr. James C. Allen, a Korean War veteran from Madison (February 2008); John Maurer, a World War II veteran and former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs from Racine (June 2008); and Mark Schaitel, a World War II and Korean War veteran from Sparta (August 2008).

There will be up to six annual awards, four regional and two statewide ones. Nominations may be submitted at any time during the year, but no later than the 15th of the month prior to each proposed award. Completed nominations should be mailed to:  Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs Lifetime Achievement Award, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, 30 W. Mifflin St., P.O. Box 7843, Madison, WI  53707-7843, or faxed to:  (608) 264-7616.

Nomination forms are available online at www.wisvets.com/boardaward, or by calling WDVA at (608) 266-1315. For more information about the award, go to www.wisvets.com/boardaward or call WDVA toll-free at 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387).