Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to honor Aurora resident as its ‘Veteran of the Month'

CHICAGO –The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) next week will honor Richard C. Irvin, an Aurora resident and U.S. Army veteran, as its February 2012 “Veteran of the Month” during a ceremony at 6 p.m. (CST) next Tuesday (February 14, 2012) at the Aurora City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place, 2nd floor, in Aurora.

“Service to country and community go hand-in-hand with Richard Irvin,” said IDVA Director Erica Borggren. “After serving in the Middle East, he embarked on an impressive career in public service. Richard is the quintessential example of the type of individual that the ‘Veteran of the Month’ award is designed to honor.” 

The Illinois Veteran of the Month award is a distinction bestowed upon military veterans who give back to their communities. Irvin served during Desert Storm and Desert Shield from 1988-1991 and, upon returning home, he became the first in his family to attend college and law school. He is being honored by IDVA and his peers for his military service and commitment to Aurora and greater Kane County.

Irvin’s personal and professional achievements include:

• For his military service, he earned the Army Service Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Southwest Asia Service Medal.
• On the home front, he was a highly regarded head of the Aurora-based Prosecutor Unit of the Kane County State Attorney’s Office where he worked with police, local elected officials and residents to fight crime and address quality of life issues in Aurora. He also serves on the Executive Board of the Illinois Coalition for Community Services and is a volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters and a life member of Aurora’s VFW Post 468.
• Professionally, Irvin is the Alderman-At-Large for the City of Aurora and is a private practice attorney with the Law Offices of Richard C. Irvin & Associates.

The “Veteran of the Month” award highlights the work of community servants who are also military veterans. Each month the Department recognizes a different person or group that contributes to the betterment of communities across the state of Illinois. To nominate a “Veteran of the Month,” please visit IDVA’s website at veterans.illinois.gov to obtain a list of guidelines and a nomination form.