Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs honors Mr. Rob Gorham with the Patriotic Volunteer Appreciation Award

(Urbana, IL) .... The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) named Mr. Rob Gorham as recipient of the Illinois Patriotic Volunteer and Appreciation Award for the Fourth Quarter, Fiscal Year 2017.  The Award was presented today at the Army National Guard Armory in Urbana, Illinois.  The Illinois Veterans' Patriotic Volunteer and Appreciation Award high-lights and honors the work of Illinois veterans whose contributions in service to the veteran community and their local communities are truly above and beyond. Nominees are evaluated on the basis of their leadership, dedication, innovation, and impact in serving these communities.  Award recipients are those whose efforts add to the powerful narrative that veterans are dedicated, Life-long servants whose efforts benefit all of Illinois veteran communities.

 Mr. Gorham volunteered for the United States Army in 1969.  He served in Vietnam and was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1975.  He has continued to serve his community and his fellow veterans, exhibiting exemplary commitment through various veteran and volunteer activities.  For the past two years, Mr. Gorham has worked at length to raise the awareness of the birthplace of the Tuskegee Airmen here in Central Illinois.  March of 2016, signs were erected on all County highways entering Champaign County, due to Mr. Gorham's personal mission.

 "Because of countless number of hours Mr. Gorham has offered to assist veterans today and those who served in the past, it is a pleasure to honor him with this award," said IDVA Director Erica Jeffries.

 The Illinois Veterans' Patriotic Volunteer and Appreciation Award will be awarded quarterly from the nominations received.  The Volunteer of the Year will be selected from the four Volunteers awarded the Illinois Patriotic Volunteer and Appreciation Award. The Volunteer selected will be honored at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois in August of each year.