U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich honors Vietnam veteran

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich recently presented DAV volunteer George Perez with a U.S. flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor, as a way to say “thank you” for his commitment to veterans.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich recently presented DAV volunteer George Perez with a U.S. flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor, as a way to say “thank you” for his commitment to veterans.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico recently honored George Perez, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, for his passionate volunteer work with DAV and his commitment to veterans.

“I presented Mr. Perez with a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor,” Heinrich said. “I’ve heard from multiple veterans about Mr. Perez’s outstanding and caring service on their behalf. So, I invited Mr. Perez, his wife, Maria, and daughter, JoAnne, and local veterans he’s helped to my office to thank him for his dedication to ensuring our veterans are able to process their VA claims successfully and efficiently.”

Perez has served in many leadership roles with DAV, from Commander of Chapter 3 in Albuquerque to now holding the Sr. Vice Commander position with the DAV Department of New Mexico while serving as the Department Service Officer. On top of all of that, he continues to volunteer three times per week at the Albuquerque VA Medical Center’s information desk, and had amassed over 9,300 volunteer hours over the last 12 years.

“He saw the issues veterans were having while filing claims and wanted to get involved,” said David Alderete, Adjutant for Chapter 3. “He went to training and hasn’t stopped since. He has helped around 400 veterans with claims and I don’t think he has lost one yet.”

“I have known George for the last four years, and in that four years he has taken helping his fellow veterans really to heart,” said Rick Madera, Department of New Mexico’s Judge Advocate. “He also goes out and picks up electric wheelchairs and fixes them up so that the department can donate them to veterans in real need.”

“I’ll do anything for veterans,” said Perez. “Receiving this flag is an honor I did not expect.”

Through his involvement as a DAV volunteer, Perez some unique insight to some of the challenges veterans face and the improvements made over the last decade.

“When I first started out I’d see a lot of veterans getting frustrated,” said Perez. “But, now I am involved I have seen the improvements and the amount of work the VA does trying to help veterans.”

“George is a man who has served his fellow veterans in many different ways and found success in all of them,” said DAV National Director of Voluntary Services John Kleindienst. “He doesn’t do it to be thanked or patted on the back, but rather because he cares for and loves his fellow veterans.”

While Perez may not volunteer for the recognition, he does notice it and appreciates the sentiment.

“A simple thank you means a lot,” said Perez. “It’s like getting a million dollars in your pocket. I can’t buy that.”