Veteran Council announces Veteran of the Year for 2020

Dec. 22—Gunnery Sgt. Kevin M. Yates, USMC (Ret.), president of the Veterans Enforcer Motorcycle Association (VEMA), has been awarded the Craven County Veterans Council's Veteran of the Year for 2020.

The award was presented on Monday, Dec. 14 at the VFW 2514 Hall before the Council, and Craven County's veterans' services organizations.

Yates, a combat veteran of Operation Noble Anvil and Operation Iraqi Freedom, has been at the forefront of veterans' activities since retiring from the USMC. As president of VEMA, a military, law enforcement and fire-rescue motorcycle association, Kevin has taken the lead to ensure collegiate scholarships are available to those in the Law Enforcement Training Curriculums. In addition, Kevin has also acted as the director of Craven County'sWreaths Across America fund drives ensuring our National Cemetery has wreaths to remember the fallen.

When approached by a Vietnam Veteran as to why there was no POW/MIA chair at Granger Stadium, Kevin went into high gear. Meeting with the Down East Wood Ducks organization and the City of Kinston, a place of honor was found for the POW/MIA chair and plaque for those still imprisoned or missing in action. Kevin also changed the remembrance of veterans for their annual fund-raising motorcycle ride from those passed to those still living.

In August, Craven County's VEMA chapter was honored as the National Chapter of the Year at the national convention in Myrtle Beach. The Veteran of the Year award is presented annually for outstanding individual service to other Veterans and for notable achievements while participating in beneficial community.

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