Presented by Richmond \ Vona Personal Injury Attorneys . Hosted by Destination Races.
Race Start: 9:00 AM
RACE HIGHLIGHTS
Veterans Race presented by Destination Races and Presenting Sponsor the law office of Richmond\ Vona has been honoring all who served and currently serving in our military. Our goal is to improve services towards local veteran organizations. This year, we are proud to host the race with Veterans One-Stop Center and Buffalo Naval Park. Proceeds will benefit these two groups to PRESERVE. PROTECT. and HONOR all who served.
The course is certified and marked for USATF
2021 Veterans 5K
2021 Veterans 10K
Additional race information can be found at http://www.destinationraces.net.
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This award is given annually to the first place Male & Female Runner of the Veterans Race in Buffalo, NY.
Edward S. Simmons, of Buffalo, a Vietnam War veteran from 1969-70; combat medic. Mr. Simmons impact on the local and national community continues to this very day. Edward was an avid runner and a founding member of the Veterans One-Stop Center.
After returning from service in Vietnam, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Buffalo. His calling was to continue supporting veterans after a grueling war and to give them the network they needed post-service. He believed with all his might, that veterans deserved the resources to reestablish themselves and that he could champion this fight.
In 1980, following his calling, he became the first director of the Veterans Helping Veterans Center in Buffalo City Hall. The Center performed exceptionally, and Edward became the local veteran’s employment representative for the state Department of Labor. He also helped established the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program locally, which awards college scholarships to children and grandchildren of Vietnam War veterans. In 2009, he joined the state Division of Veterans Affairs as a deputy director for the Western Region.
His legacy carries on today through the Veterans One-Stop Center as he was a founding member. He held positions as a member of the advisory board and co-chairman of the Board of Directors, as well as a member of the advisory committee for the VA Medical Center.
But his accomplishments extended far beyond the One-Stop Center and the VA. Mr. Simmons was a running enthusiast, organizing the “Who Dares, Wins” relay from Buffalo to Washington D.C., also to Baltimore, Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. This called attention to the need for veteran employment. Then he organized a relay-run across America from Buffalo to San Francisco in 1996. Locally, he organized the 24-Hour Run for Job in Delaware Park. Finally, he competed in three Marine Corp Marathons (1995, 1996, and 1998).
Edward S. Simmons passed away on July 16th, 2013.
On November 6th, the trophy awarded to the fastest veteran or active duty participant in the Veterans Race 5K will be officially and honorably named the “Edward S. Simmons Trophy”.
Buffalo Naval and Military Park
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