Veterans Affairs

Veterans,

First and foremost, thank you for your service to our country. You and your families have committed some portion of your lives to protect our nation.

I have a special place in my heart for our veterans and active-duty military men and women. My husband had a full career in the U.S. Army and retired as a Major General. We traveled around the world during his military career, and I appreciate what it means to be a military spouse.

Both of our children are in active-duty military families. Our son is in the U.S. Army, and our son-in-law is in the U.S. Air Force.

As Mayor, it has been my goal to do as much as we can to support our veterans. I am the first Mayor to have a dedicated Veterans Liaison in my office. We continue our work to effectively end veterans homelessness. Our Commission on Veterans' Affairs works hard to pay tribute and support our veterans. And, Lexington is proud to be the home of the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame.

There's a lot of good things happening in Lexington, and we are determined to be a supportive city for our veterans. Thank you again for your service and to the friends and family that have supported you along the way.

The Commission on Veterans Affairs works to provide support to our veteran community. The commission is appointed by the mayor and approved by the council. Monthly meetings are held to discuss programs, events and other ways to help veterans attain the support they deserve. Including support for veteran families.

The commission meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 11:30 a.m. Meetings are located at the Lexington Senior Center, 195 Life Lane.

Learn about Commission on Veterans' Affairs.

In 2019, Mayor Linda Gorton announced a new partnership with federal, state and local partners to effectively end veteran homelessness in Lexington. The city was the first in Kentucky to be recognized for meeting the strict benchmarks needed for this achievement.

Working with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a system was developed to make veterans' homelessness rare, brief and non-reoccurring.

Included in the partnership program:

• Lexington VA Healthcare System
• Lexington Housing Authority
• Volunteers of America Mid-States
• Saint James Place
• The Hope Center
• The Salvation Army
• Community Action Council
• Lexington's Office of Homeless Prevention and Intervention

If you are, or someone you know is, a veteran experiencing homelessness, contact the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention for support.

Additionally, the Kentucky Housing Corporation has a Veterans program, VETT, which provides support to Veterans Emerging Towards Transition. Learn more about VETT.

Lexington is proud to be the official host city for the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame. The organization is devoted to recognizing military veterans who have continued serving their community after their military careers. You can learn more about the organization online.

Fayette County inductees into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame

• 2014 – Thomas Baker
• 2016 – Don Dixon, James Thurman, Jr.
• 2017 – Troy Bowling, David Carter
• 2018 – Paschal Baute, Julia Cantrell-Martin, Cortez Day, Helen Evans
• 2019 – Dean Hammond, Jr., Micki King, John Shotwell
• 2020 – Franketta Zalaznik
• 2021 – Kathryn Lee Bux
• 2022 – Benjamin Adams III, Roy Hall
• 2023 – Judith April Brown, Douglas Carter, Sr., William Gay, Ronald Logan, David Morgan, Leonard Neal, John Thurston

• 2024 – Harris Millerd, Jr.

Stay tuned for upcoming events!

The American Legion

• Post 8 – 1230 Man O War Place | (859) 252-0022
• Post 341 – 1493 Leestown Road | (859) 259-1105
• Post 132 – P.O. Box 13563 | (859) 687-9086

Congressman Andy Barr's 6th District Veterans Coalition

Disabled American Veterans

Honor Flight Kentucky

Joint Executive Council of Veteran's Organizations (JECVO)

Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs

Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame

Kentucky Wounded Heroes

Lady Veterans Connect

Lexington VA Healthcare System

Military Freedom Fest

National Association for Black Veterans, Inc.

Rolling Thunder

University of Kentucky Veterans Resource Center

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW Post 680)

Veterans Resources United of Central/Southeastern Kentucky (VRUCK)

Volunteers of America

Are you a Veteran Resource Organization not listed here? Let us know by emailing ccammack@lexingtonky.gov.

• If you, or someone you know, experience a mental health crisis, please do not delay in utilizing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Just call or text 988 to be connected to a trained counselor who can provide support and resources.
• Need your DD Form 214? Learn how to get your DD Form 214.
• Did you know Kentucky provides free tuition to all state colleges and universities for dependents of certain veterans? Learn more about the Kentucky tuition waiver.
• There are numerous federal resources available to veterans. Find out how you can access these resources.
• Kentucky operates several long-term care facilities for veterans, including the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore, KY. Learn more about the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center.