Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to honor Jack Amberg as its ‘Veteran of the Month'

CHICAGO –The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) on Friday (December 16th) will honor Jack Amberg, a Naperville resident and U.S. Army veteran, as its December 2011 “Veteran of the Month” during a ceremony at 1 p.m. (CST) at the Pritzker Military Library, 104 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

“Jack Amberg epitomizes the positive role played by many veterans after they complete their service,” said IDVA Director Erica Borggren. “After 26 years in the military, Mr. Amberg began a distinguished career serving the Illinois veteran community as a leader and advocate with the McCormick Foundation.”

The Illinois Veteran of the Month award is a distinction bestowed upon military veterans who give back to their communities. Amberg, who enlisted the Army after high school, rose to the rank of Lt. Col. He is being honored for his unselfish impact on the local veterans’ community. Amberg will be honored with other 2011 Veteran of the Month recipients.

Amberg’s personal, professional and community achievements include:

• For his military service, he earned the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, six Army Commendation Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and two Overseas Service Ribbons.
• Serving as the Senior Director of Veteran Programs for the McCormick Foundation and spearheading their important work on veterans’ issues in the Chicagoland area and beyond, including by providing key oversight of their Veterans Midwest Employment Fund.
• Remaining active within the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, West Point Society of Chicago and the Knights of Columbus, as well as the coach of his son’s football team, the den leader for Cub Scout Pack 513 and a board member of the USO of Illinois.

The “Veteran of the Month” award highlights the work of community organizers 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.