INGLEWOOD, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- U.S.VETS successfully kicked off Memorial Day weekend with a meaningful day of honor for the women and men that served our country.
On Friday, May 25, U.S. VETS—the country’s largest non-profit provider of comprehensive services to homeless and at-risk Veterans—celebrated their 25th Anniversary with their rededication of the organization’s first established veteran’s facility. The site was, for the first time, officially dedicated as U.S. VETS—INGLEWOOD.
The event hosted political dignitaries and notable special guests such as Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA District 43), Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., Akilah Templeton, Executive Director, U.S. VETS—Inglewood and Stephen J. Peck (President/CEO, U.S. VETS). Additionally, the day included a commemorative ceremony, open-to-the-public community resource fair, live music, special appearance by the Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders, and the inaugural performance of the U.S. VETS-Inglewood InterService Veteran Color Guard.
Executive Director Akilah Templeton—an Inglewood native, and long-time mental health advocate, who helms U.S.VETS—INGLEWOOD, one of the country’s largest residential sites for homeless veterans, stated that “our collective service and commitment to our veterans will continue, as we have for 25 years, until every last veteran is moved off of our streets and into the proud future they deserve.”
“U.S. VETS is an extremely important organization that is dedicated to ensuring a better quality of life for homeless and at-risk veterans here in Inglewood and across the country. I am so pleased to join with them once again to celebrate 25 years of distinguished service, and I look forward to continuing our long and strong partnership of providing housing assistance and services to veterans in our community,” said U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
“On behalf of the City of Inglewood, I am honored to pay tribute to all of the veterans, past, and present, who protect the freedoms and way of life we cherish in America. Inglewood salutes you,” stated Mayor James T. Butts Jr.