Kelley Guidry Makes History as First Nevada Woman Veteran of the Year 

(Las Vegas, NV) – The Nevada Department of Veterans Services honored a   

trailblazing woman veteran for her work to changing lives through peer support and purpose. Kelley Guidry, co-founder of the Las Vegas-based nonprofit 

Forgotten Not Gone, became the first recipient of the Nevada Woman Veteran of the Year Award. 

The award is a statewide recognition designed to honor women veterans for their volunteer work on behalf of veterans and the veteran community. Guidry was selected by her peers to earn this distinguished honor. The Nevada Woman Veteran of the Year Award was launched during Women’s Military History Month in Nevada. It celebrates women veterans for exceptional service to the veteran community. 

Guidry’s life is a powerful testimony of purpose, healing, and unwavering dedication to Stomping Out Veteran Suicide. She has served as a voice for the voiceless through the Las Vegas-based nonprofit in fighting against veteran suicide through veteran support and outdoor recreation. Forgotten Not Gone specializes in Adaptive Sports equipment, recumbent trike rides, that reconnect veterans to their bodies, their community, and a renewed sense of purpose. Guidry is an U.S. Air Force veteran with six years of honorable service from 1997 – 2003.   

“Be honest and courageous enough to become a better person,” is Guidry’s motto, driving her mission to uplift her fellow veterans and transform lives. Alongside her husband and fellow co-founder, Peter Guidry, she created a powerful movement with participants collectively logging more than 38,000 miles of healing in 2024. Each mile represents resilience, recovery, and reconnection.  

Additionally, Guidry launched the Women Warriors Wellness Program offering peer support tailored to female veterans. Each session is rooted in holistic healing to include grounding techniques, breathing exercises, shared experiences, and emotional empowerment. Drawing on more than 13 years of personal recovery, Guidry serves as a mentor and guide for others navigating trauma and reintegration. Her journey from adversity to advocacy gives her a unique voice that resonates deeply with veterans who feel forgotten or alone.  

Forgotten Not Gone supports resiliency training and hosts rides for active-duty personnel at Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases. The organization has been involved in several events in partnership with the cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. Forgotten Not Gone has also been the recipient of the Nonprofit of the Year Award, provided through the Las Vegas Chamber Military Affairs Committee.   

The Nevada Women Veteran of the Year Award is provided through the Nevada Women Veteran’s Advisory Committee which serves in an advisory capacity and is supported by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services. For more information on the award and women veterans in Nevada visit veterans.nv.gov.