The Governor’s Office and NDVS Recognize the “Veteran and Veteran Supporter of the month”

By Josh Loftis

(Carson City, NV) – This month (September, 2017) The Veterans Services Commission elected Scott Wesley Wilcox for Veteran of the Month, and the UNR Veterans Alumni Chapter for Veteran Supporter of the Month. 

Both were honored in a ceremony, September 25, 2017, at the Governor’s Mansion. 

Among those in attendance were; Governor Brian Sandoval, Katherine Miller – Director, Nevada Department of Veterans Services, and numerous representatives from our congressional leadership. 

Wilcox retired in 2013 from the Federal Aviation Administration following a 30-year career. He made it perfectly clear he intended to “give something back" to veterans and the community. His volunteerism on many fronts demonstrates he’s done just that. Wilcox is actively involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 10053, in Verdi and the American Legion, Post 1, in Reno. Among the many activities he is involved in includes being a driver for the VA hospital van, fundraising for numerous causes including; the Veterans Guest House, Operation Comfort Warrior, the Veterans Housing Assistance Program, the Sam’s Club Veteran’s Day fundraiser, Boys State, Hear Today, Learn Tomorrow, Child Welfare Fund, Veteran Emergency Fund and Poppy Drives for the past three years in a row. Additionally he’s greeted Honor Flights returning retired military heroes at the Reno-Tahoe airport, assisted and judged the annual Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen VFW Scholarship Contests, participated in American flag exchanges, worked with Wreaths Across America to lay wreaths at the Veterans Cemetery in Fernley and participated in monthly Ceremonies for the Unaccompanied at the same cemetery. Wilcox is a member of the Verdi Historical Society. Around the holidays, you will find him and his wife Kathy preparing food boxes for Thanksgiving and Christmas food donations through the American Legion. He assists with local Boy Scouts, JROTC, and ROTC events. Wilcox is also an advocate for teacher recognition by promoting the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. He’s also a promoter of Safety Officer of the Year, as well as Firefighter and EMT of the Year awards. 

The University of Nevada Veterans Alumni Chapter and student veterans coordinate a monthly professional networking event called Engage. The event is intended to meet the unmet needs of today’s veterans by providing a place where they can drive the conversation. Further, Engage is intended to help change the narrative of “veterans as victims" and instead, advance a new narrative of veterans as assets in their community. Engage is now a place where veterans showcase their leadership and spirit of service. In the past two years, it has connected veterans to service providers as well as meaningful and lasting employment opportunities. 

Through the support of the Veteran Services Commission, who nominates each veteran of the month and veteran supporter of the month, the Nevada Department of Veterans Services takes some time to recognize these individuals and organizations who are doing their part for the veteran community in Nevada.

The “Veteran of the Month" and “Veteran Supporter of the Month" awards are part of Governor Brian Sandoval’s commitment to make Nevada the “friendliest State in the nation" to its military and veterans communities.