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By Blake Boles 
LAS VEGAS, NV (December 14th, 2016) — During a touching ceremony in the foyer of the Grant Sawyer Building, students from the Cynthia Mann Music Studio played holiday songs and patriotic melodies as the Nevada Department of Veterans Services honored Vietnam veteran and longtime advocate, Marty Barrett, as Nevada’s Veteran of the Month for December. The Veteran of the Month Award recognizes veterans who provide exceptional support to the veteran community, as well as military stationed in Nevada, Nevada veterans, and their families. This program, along with the recently installed Veteran Supporter of the Month, shines a bright light on individuals who help veterans with no expectation of recognition or award. The Veteran of the Month/Veteran Supporter of the Month Ceremonies are a part of Governor Brian Sandoval’s pledge to make Nevada “the most veteran and military friendly state in the nation.”  
Barrett, of Henderson, enlisted in the United States Army in 1971, and served 19 months. He was deployed to Vietnam, specifically Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta, and served with Headquarters Company, 36TH Engineer Battalion. He attained the rank of Sergeant, and was notably awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal w/2 Stars, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ Device. He moved to Nevada from Pennsylvania several years ago, and became an active member of several local veteran service organizations, including the Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Patriot Guard Riders, and the Disabled Veterans of America. He volunteers as a member of the American Legion Post 76’s Color Guard, and as a photographer for the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He supports the Nevada State Veterans Home, and is a member of the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery Advisory Board. He assists Nellis Air Force Base with their annual Air Show, and supports the National Guard, Reserves, and Nellis Air Force Base personnel and their families with volunteer hours. In fact, his nominator, veteran Richard Keirn, estimates that Mr. Barrett logs in over 200 volunteer hours every single month. 
Keirn was effusive in his praise of his longtime friend. “Out of all the people I know, nobody works as hard as Marty” in assisting veterans, he said. A visibly emotional Barrett expanded on the reasons he works so hard to assist veterans in need. “When you have a guy in front of you, and he says to you, ‘Nobody has ever helped me before; thank you’…that’s good,” he said, as he beat a fist on his heart. 
The ceremony was open to the public and free to attend, as are many events hosted by NDVS. For more information on outreach efforts and available programs for veterans, visit http://veterans.nv.gov/benefits-and-services/veteran-of-the-month-program/, or call (702) 486-3830.