Lawyer, motorcyclists’ group honored for service to military veterans

Members of the Southern Nevada Patriot Guard Riders line the path during a memorial service for U.S. Army Spc. Ignacio "Nacho" Ramirez at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (Daniel Clark/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto)

Gov. Brian Sandoval presents Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Nevada Assistant State Captain Rick Foulon with the Veterans Organization of the Month award Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, at the Sawyer Building. At left is Ken Roberts, August Veteran of the Month. Keith Rogers/Las Vegas Review-Journal

An Air Force veteran who offers pro bono legal services to the Henderson Veterans Treatment Court and a group that provides patriotic flag lines and motorcycle escorts at military funerals were recognized Tuesday by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval thanked Ken Roberts and the Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Nevada for their efforts in keeping with his goal to make Nevada the most veteran-friendly state in the nation, presenting them, respectively, with certificates for Veteran of the Month and Veterans Organization of the Month

“It makes my heart explode when I see those flags and all of you standing there with such strength and pride,” Sandoval said in presenting the award to Patriot Guard Riders’ representative Rick Foulon at the Sawyer Building.

Roberts, a 21-year Air Force veteran, received the August Veteran of the Month award for volunteering to be special assistant public defense counsel at the Henderson Veterans Treatment Court. He produced the mentor’s handbook for the court, which offers simple, low-cost counseling and treatment services for veterans coping with drug, alcohol and domestic problems.

Contact Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308. Find him on Twitter: @KeithRogers2