For many veterans, asking for help can be hard — which is why organizers of this year’s Veterans Day of Valor hope to make that first step a little easier by bringing support, services and community together in one welcoming place in Winchester.
The third annual Veterans Day of Valor will be Friday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the auxiliary gym of George Rogers Clark High School, 2745 Boonesboro Road, Winchester.
“We’ll have resource vendors from around the state — anything from jobs to housing. Any kind of resource that veterans need, we hope to have someone there,” said Kim Elkins, who is organizing the event along with Phyllis Abbott of Lady Veterans Connect. “If we don’t have that resource, we will find someone who can help them.”
Elkins said she and Abbott have sent out sponsorship letters, and so far they’ve gotten commitments from about 20 vendors and raised $3,000 for advertising and other expenses. They’ve contacted veterans groups and public officials in 13 counties to get the word out to veterans.
“You don’t have to be a veteran to come. We would like people to come and support our veterans who are there,” Elkins said.
The veterans will be honored at 10:30 with an opening ceremony that includes a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, presentation of colors by Rolling Thunder, and the national anthem sung by Perri Wilson.
Lunch will be provided by Kentucky Farm Bureau, Thompson Catering, Ale‑8 One, Pepsi, Creative Coffees Roastery, Local Roots, Rose Mary C. Brooks Place, and Centerpoint Health.
There will also be drawings for giveaways for donated gifts and gift cards.
The keynote speaker will be Eric Koleda, an Air Force Vietnam War veteran, who will discuss House Bill 369, a bipartisan bill that passed the General Assembly and was signed into law in April by Gov. Andy Beshear. It allows post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury to be accepted as qualifying medical conditions for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Abbott said she expects some of the women veterans from Lady Veterans Connect’s transitional assistance home in Trapp will participate, as they often do in veterans events.
“We encourage them to come to events,” she said. “It’s not all about receiving, but you have to give back as well.”
Elkins said the Veterans Day of Valor in Winchester began three years ago when she and her husband, Greg, a state senator, attended one of the claims and resource events in Bath County, and Abbott asked if they could start one in Clark County.
“She helped me see that need, and I’m just glad that I can participate in it,” Elkins said.
At the first local Day of Valor, about 100 veterans were served; the next year, that number rose to 120.
“Every year so far, it’s been very nice,” Elkins said. “We hope to have a good turnout.”
The event won’t be hosting the Traveling Kentucky Vietnam Wall again this year, but the organizers hope to have something to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Elkins said the event is open to people from outside Clark County as well.
Menifee County Judge-Executive Hector Alcala and his wife said they want to bus a group of veterans from their county for the event.
The claims process can be complicated and time-consuming, but there will be people who can help with claims, including the National Association of Black Veterans (NABVETS) as well as Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and probably the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, Abbot said.
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Resource information available will focus on issues such as financial planning, housing, jobs, home health facilities, and other services available.
Elkins said that if other groups want to help provide resources, they may contact her or Abbott, but vendors can’t sell anything at the event; they can only provide information.
Elkins and Abbott would also welcome more volunteers.
To contact them, call Abbott at 859−806−4297 or Elkins at 731−798−6700.
