Armed Forces & Military Veterans Appreciation Inc.
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To honor the sacrifices that our Armed Forces, First Responders, and their families make for our country by hosting a day of gratitude and fun.

Established in 2014 to carry out its mission of support and assistance for veterans and those currently serving in military service

Purpose

To honor the sacrifices that our Armed Forces, First Responders, and their families make for our country by hosting a day of gratitude and fun.

Audience

Enlisted military (ie. Nellis AFB, Creech AFB), Veterans, Fire Fighters, Police, EM, and their families. We have many attendees who served in Vietnam, this is an opportunity to welcome them and make them feel welcome. So many of our attendees are older veterans and this is their day.

Better than other

This is an opportunity for many Veterans groups to come together and share their services and goods. Whether it be a lonely widowed spouse looking for an organization to become involved with, a Veteran who finds comradeship with other Veterans, or possibly finding the perfect service dog, this is the place. It is all here!

Vision

To have a bigger outreach to more Veterans, Active Duty Military, First Responders, and their families. To bring in more younger volunteers. To be recognized nationally as Nevada’s #1 Military/First Responder Appreciation event

Activities

Interactive Children/Family Area, Miniature Pig show, Las Vegas Cruisin’ Car Show with voting for the best cars and awards, Wheels 4 Warriors presentation of a motorcycle to a deserving Veteran. Battle of the Branches competition.

Volunteering

Our Core Volunteer base has grown immensely over the past 10 plus years. We are proud to be 100% volunteer-driven! Our volunteers are Veterans, First Responders, Civilians, and Junior ROTC from local high schools.

Our Organization is a non-profit that includes Retired Veterans, Enlisted Military, First Responders and Civilians from throughout Southern Nevada who work tirelessly year round to honor our Military community and First Responders and their families for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our country.
Our Organization is a non-profit that includes Retired Veterans, Enlisted Military, First Responders and Civilians from throughout Southern Nevada who work tirelessly year round to honor our Military community and First Responders and their families for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our country.
Laura Coleman

Laura Coleman

Co-Founder & Sponsorship Coordinator

Laura moved to Las Vegas with her parents in the late 1960s. Laura became a dealer at the Poker Palace in North Las Vegas, where she met her husband, Mickey, who owned the casino. In the 1990’s Laura produced a television program focusing on positive people and businesses in North Las Vegas. Laura has volunteered with Nathan Adelson Hospice for more than 30 years. She started as a homecare volunteer, but after the birth of her grandson, Madison, she started chairing the Wine and Food Tasting Extravaganza. Now in its 21st year, this event has raised over $1 million for programs at Nathan Adelson Hospice. Laura is also the Founder of the Armed Forces, Military Veterans, & First Responders Appreciation Day event that is annually held in North Las Vegas. Laura and a group of volunteers host this event free of charge to all Military, Veterans and First Responders. For the past 18 years, Laura has held a monthly birthday party at the James Boys and Girls Club in North Las Vegas for school-age children who may not normally have a birthday party, complete with games, cake, and gifts. Laura has a strong belief in doing what is right for our community.

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Richard J. Cherchio

Co-Founder & North Las Vegas City Councilman

Richard Cherchio, accompanied by his wife Gloria, made the pivotal decision to move to the City of North Las Vegas in 2001. This relocation marked the beginning of their enduring connection with the community. In 2014, Richard took on the role of Co-Founder of the “Armed Forces Military, and Veterans Appreciation Inc.,” a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting military members, their families, veterans, and first responders.

Sherrie Kuzmanovic

- Volunteer Coordinator -

Sherrie has been a Realtor® for over 20 years, representing buyers and sellers in North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, and Henderson. She has been involved with the Military, Veterans, and First Responders Appreciation Day since 2015 and became the Volunteer Coordinator in 2020.

Toni Stuart

- Treasurer -

Toni Stuart has dedicated her life to supporting military and veteran communities, including serving as a Navy Wife and Ombudsman. She has raised nearly $100,000 for Polycystic Kidney Disease research and is the Treasurer for the Military, Veterans, and First Responders Appreciation Day organization. Toni and her husband, Dennis, enjoy life with their two successful sons and new grandson.

David Hollander

- Vendor Coordinator/Ambassador -

David Hollander has been married for 44 years, with 4 grandchildren. He also has over 30 years of aerospace experience, starting in 1977 and serving in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in KC-135 refueling tankers. He later worked in defense and commercial space industries, contributing to projects like the Atlas Rocket and suborbital test flight systems. David has volunteered with organizations such as the Red Cross, Sun City Aliante Veteran's Club where he served as the Chairman, to name a few.

Sy Nielson

- Opening Ceremony Coordinator -

Sy Nielson, originally from Brooklyn, NY, and New Jersey, moved to California in 1967 and later retired to Las Vegas in 2006. A former 101st Airborne Division paratrooper, he and his wife Lois have celebrated 62 years of marriage, raising two children and enjoying five grandchildren. Retired from his business, Sy Nielson Service, Inc., he has been actively involved with the Military, Veterans, and First Responders organization, proudly leading Opening Ceremonies since its inception.

John Wulf

- Transportation Coordinator -

My responsibilities include directing traffic for the entire event, operating the golf carts for vendors. I also am responsible for the courtesy carts that bring our guests in and out of the parking lot as well as driving our disabled guests around the event. I have owned a technology company in Las Vegas for the last 23 years. I am a husband and proud father to three children.

Ylonda Dickerson

- Kid Zone Coordinator -

Ylonda Dickerson, a North Las Vegas native, is a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. With degrees in Education and Social Work from UNLV, she founded Valley View Community Cares (VVCC) in 1999 to address youth challenges like drug abuse and school dropouts. Now a nonprofit with 14 programs and 50 volunteers, VVCC provides mentoring and resources to empower at-risk youth and strengthen the community.