Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, is awarding Chuck Morris, a veterans rights activist, with the annual Veteran of the Year award Friday for the 38th Assembly District in Sacramento.

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“It’s kind of a heartwarming thing that I received accolades for things that I really didn’t do to get awards,” said Morris, a veteran of the Korean War. “I do these things because I want to… and it’s really an honor to get recognized for what you’ve done.”

Morris, who served in the U.S. Army between 1952-54, received an honorable discharge with the rank of Private First Class and was awarded the Army of Occupation-National Defense Medal during his service.

Morris retired after working 40 years in the automotive industry, and dedicates his time to several veteran organizations, including  Operation Gratitude, Habitat for Heroes, Friendly Valley Veterans Club, Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center Veterans Club and Veterans Advocacy Network Inc.

Related Article: SCV Veteran Leads Effort To Bring Vietnam Wall To Town

In September 2013, Morris successfully brought the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall to Santa Clarita for a three-day event at the Westfield Valencia Town Center to show solidarity with Vietnam veterans, who he felt were treated very poorly after their return from the war.

“I think his most amazing effort was bringing the wall here,” Wilk said. “People said he couldn’t do it, but he was able to get 3,000 people to volunteer just to make that happen. It’s amazing to me, the feeling that went on for the people who visited that wall.”

Morris is continuing his efforts for veterans’ rights in the community and working to raise awareness for his cause through branding November as Veterans Month.

He is organizing a series of events to raise awareness for Veterans in November, including a golf tournament and a shoot-out.

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