Colorado Springs honors second annual ‘Veteran of the Year’ honored for service in community

It was an exciting day for a local veteran Thursday as he was honored for his service overseas and in his community.

It’s a ceremony to honor Victor M. Fernandez, a veteran who made a career out of the military serving for 30 years.

Fernandez has been very successful, serving several tours overseas.

“I looked after draftees until they went home. Never lost a single person in combat,” he said.

But he’s also faced obstacles. Fernandez lost his home in the Waldo Canyon fire.

He lost all of his medals and now looks at some of the few pictures he has left.

“That’s me when I was a cadet,” he said.

But he hasn’t let it stop him. His dream has been to have a veteran cemetery built to honor the heroes who have defended the country.

“We have the largest veteran population in the United States and we didn’t have a cemetery,” Fernandez said.

It wasn’t easy, but after 20 years it’s now under construction.

Parts of it expected to be completed by this Fall.

“When someone has a dream like this and just does it, it’s going to be their legacy,” he said.

Because of his efforts, he’s received the 2018 Veteran of the Year award Thursday.

It’s an award he can add to the room that once held all of his medals and pictures.

This is the second annual Veteran of the Year ceremony a tradition put on by the El Paso County veteran’s service office.