April 14, 2010 - North Colonie maintenance employee, Doug Williams, has been selected as a medalist for the Jefferson Awards for his tireless efforts as a volunteer organizer of the annual veterans’ event at the Elks’ Lodge in Colonie.

Since 1972, The Jefferson Awards, presented on two levels: national and local, serve as a "Call to Action for Volunteers" in local communities. For the past six years, the Times Union, Saint Peter’s Health Care Services, News Channel 13 and the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, honored local citizens who, through volunteer service, do extraordinary things for other people, their community, their nation or the environment.

Williams assists about 325 veterans a year, most of them from the Vietnam era, finding them housing, clothing, food, employment, medical screenings, legal advice and more. He leads veterans, who are down on their luck, to services and opportunities they now know they have earned.

Williams, and the other Capital Region medalists, will be honored on April 14, at the Century House in Latham. From this group, one individual will be chosen to represent the Capital Region during an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. in June 2010.