Photo By Cpl. Julio McGraw | (ret.) Lt. Col. Dean Hunter, honoree, Maj. Gen. Lawrence A. Haskins, Commander, 40th...... read more read more
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INDIO, Calif. - Throughout the crowd, war stories and fond memories were exchanged by active-duty service members and veterans who attended the 5th Annual Veterans Expo at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio, Calif., Oct. 11, 2014.
The Veterans Expo is an annual ceremony and exposition coordinated by The Salvation Army. A handful of active duty and retired service members are honored and recognized for their service to the country during the event.
“We wanted to have a place where all the service members, active duty and retired, could see what is available to them for help all under one roof,” said Bill Young, event coordinator, Veterans Expo.
More than 60 booths at the expo provided services and information like financial aid, home loans, education opportunities and emergency services. Also, it was a place where veterans and active duty service members could talk to companies in the area about resources available to them.
“We saw that some service members did not know the things that were entitled to or available to them, so we decided to put this together,” Young said. “The expo has more than doubled since we started.”
At the expo, three Marines and an Air Force officer were honored for their service. Sgt. Douglas Lockard, platoon sergeant, Combat Logistics Battalion 7; Cpl. Daniel Kinney, ground radio technician, CLB-7; (ret.) Air Force Lt. Col. Dean Hunter, Silver Star recipient; and (ret.) Master Gunnery Sgt. Jody Davis, were the service members honored at the ceremony.
“It is a surprise being here,” Lockard said. “It is my first time and I really was not expecting to be recognized in this manner.”
Kinney and Douglas were two Marines chosen by the Combat Center to receive recognition. Some of the speakers at the ceremony included Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz and Maj. Gen. Lawrence A. Haskins, commander, 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard.
“It is amazing seeing true war heroes all in one room and seeing how humble they are. It is truly a great experience,” Kinney said.
In the crowd, men and women, young and old, sat wearing articles of clothing and insignia that represented their time in the military. Although each person accomplished something different in their respected branch, the common bond of defending the United States brought them all together.
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.16.2014 18:39 |
| Story ID: | 145280 |
| Location: | INDIO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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