The newly crowned Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev, joined Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, America Legion representatives and veterans at a South Jersey Regional Veterans Resource & Opportunity Fair Oct. 9.
The event, held at Atlantic City’s All Wars Memorial Building, was created to bring together Southern New Jersey veterans with service organizations and employers that can assist and enhance the lives of the brave men and women that defend our freedom.
The American Legion, Atlantic City Mayor Guardian, the New Jersey Parole Board and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs sponsored the four-hour long networking opportunity.
Vendors were on hand to provide critical information and assistance with employment, homelessness, PTSD, and Criminal Justice initiatives.
Following her rendition of the National Anthem, Kzantsev addressed the audience, explaining that she was a first generation American whose parents came to this country from Russia to follow the American Dream.
Her presence was testimony to her support of our nation’s military members and a symbolic representation of the need for our younger generation’s leaders to carry the torch for the aging advocates that have stoically supported veterans of all conflicts.
During her reign, Kazantsev intends to speak out against domestic violence and, when asked during the competition what issue she would want female U.S. senators to press their male counterparts, she said, "combating sexual assault in the military.”