Colonel (Ret) Anselmo “Sonny” Alvarez, Jr. honored by Lady Stirling Chapter, DAR

From left DAR members Laury Long, Nancy Moreyra, and Sally Buckingham
Honoree Sonny Alvarez with plaque

Photos courtesy Lady Stirling Chapter NSDAR

On November 12, 2016, Lady Stirling Chapter NSDAR held a ceremony to honor Retired Colonel Anselmo “Sonny” Alvarez, Jr., who served in the Vietnam War and is a member of the Shoreline Veterans Association.

Colonel Alvarez first enlisted in the Washington State National Guard in 1965 which joined forces with the US Army. Sonny served with the First Infantry Division, Second Battalion, 28th Infantry Brigade Black Lions from 1967-1969.

Ceremony table

In 1970, he began serving with the Disabled American Veterans organization (DAV) and re-enlisted with the Washington State Guard in 1974.

In 1975, Sonny began volunteering at the VA Hospital and became a Veteran Service Officer, a role he continues to this day, in addition to his service for the DAV. He earned the rank of Colonel in 2002 from the Washington State Guard. 

Over the course of his service, Colonel Alvarez was awarded two Purple Hearts while serving in the US Army, the Distinguished Service Medal and Commendation Medal from the Washington National Guard.

The Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. organization recognized Sonny as the “Volunteer of the Year” in 1989. He was inducted into the “Wall of Heroes” at the VA Puget Sound Medical Center in Seattle in 2010.

Barbara and Sonny Alvarez

Born in Hawaii and raised in Puerto Rico, Sonny met his wife Barbara when she was a volunteer for the USO at Fort Lewis Washington. The couple has been married for 44 years.

In thanking him for his service to our Country, the Lady Stirling Chapter presented Colonel Alvarez with an engraved plaque, a Certificate of Appreciation, the Commemoration approved Vietnam Veteran Lapel pin and a DAR Challenge Coin to add to his collection of Challenge coins.

A reception was held following the ceremony.

Laury Long, Sonny Alvarez, Nancy Moreya,
Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts, Sally Buckingham

Lady Sterling Regent, Nancy Moreyra, and Chapter Chaplain and Historian, Sally Buckingham, led the ceremony, which was attended by Colonel Alvarez, his wife Barbara, his family and friends, fellow DAR members and Chris Roberts, Mayor of Shoreline.

Laury Boyd Long of the Lady Sterling Chapter was the Commemorative Chairman for this event and said “ As Chapter members of the NSDAR, we are dedicated to values that our organization holds dear: Patriotism, Historical Preservation, Education, Veteran Affairs, Community Outreach and Service Projects. In honoring Colonel Alvarez, we also recognize the service and sacrifices made by the many other deserving Veterans of our Country.”

This is the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is a commemorative partner with The United States of America Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration.

The Commemoration was established by Congress, to "thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war (POW) or listed as missing in action (MIA), for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans."

-->