Press Release - Oct 17, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17, 2007
CONTACT:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
GOV. RITTER MAKES APPOINTMENTS TO VETERANS AND FALLEN HEROES PANELS
Gov. Bill Ritter today announced the appointments of Larry Drake of Denver to the new Fallen Heroes Memorial Commission and James W. Stanko of Steamboat Springs to the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs.
Drake served as an infantry platoon commander in the Marines, with combat service in Vietnam from 1967 to 1973. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He is a self-employed management adviser. His appointment to the five-member commission is for four years.
The Fallen Heroes panel was created during the 2007 legislative session to erect memorials near the Colorado Veterans Monument in Denver's Lincoln Park to honor the lives of Coloradans killed in action. The first memorial will honor those killed after Sept. 11, 2001, during the war on terror, including but not limited to those who died in Afghanistan and Iraq. Subsequent memorials will honor those who died in other military conflicts.
Stanko's appointment to the Board of Veterans Affairs is for a term expiring in 2009 and fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Armando Atencio of San Pablo. Stanko served in the Army, including a duty station in Ansbach, Germany. He is the current commander of American Legion Post No. 44 and district commander of American Legion District No. 14.
The seven-member board studies problems facing veterans and makes recommendations to the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Division of Veterans Affairs.