Two locals appointed to Nevada Veterans Service Commission

Gov. Jim Gibbons recently appointed Sally Wiley of Gardnerville and reappointed Ron Gutzman of Carson City to serve two-year terms on the Nevada Veterans Services Commission.

Sally Wiley, mother of Staff Sgt. Sean Diamond killed in Iraq in February 2009, was born in Winnemucca and has lived in Gardnerville since 2001. She attended Merritt Junior College in Oakland, California, and retired from the investment industry.

Wiley is a member of Carson Valley SERTOMA, Douglas County Republican Women, the Douglas County Republican Central Committee, Gold Star Mothers of America, Sierra Nevada Blue Star Mothers, and St. Gall Catholic Church.

She also volunteers for the Army National Guard, Carson Valley Food Closet, St. Gall Women's Society, and St. Gall Catholic Church.

She is married to James Wiley and in addition to Sean Diamond is also the mother of Michael Diamond and Jason Diamond and grandmother of nine.

"My way of honoring Sean is to continue working with the soldiers, their families, and the veterans," Wiley said according to a press release from the Nevada Office of Veterans Services.

Ron Gutzman, of Carson City, is a 44-year resident of Nevada.

Originally from Madison, S.D., he attended Dakota State College, University of New Mexico, and Northern Arizona University.

He is a Marine Corps veteran and served as an air traffic controller.

Gutzman and his wife Beverly have two children, David and Kristina, and three grandchildren.

His goal as a Veterans Service Commissioner is "to have happy, healthy, and secure veterans," according to the release.

The Nevada Veterans Services Commission is composed of nine members who advise the governor, legislature, and directors of the Nevada Office of Veterans Services regarding aid or benefits to veterans.

They each serve a two-year term. Five are appointed by the governor, three as representatives from nationally recognized veterans' organizations and two from the general public.

The Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the Assembly each appoint one member, and the chairs of the two veterans cemetery advisory committees each appoint one member from their respective committees. The nine members of the Nevada Veterans Services Commission are Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, Sen. Terry Care, Ron Gutzman, William Baumann, Sean Fellows, Gina Crown, Michael Musgrove, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Scott Smith and Sally Wiley.

NOVS was created in 1943 to provide assistance and services to veterans, their family members, and residents of Nevada serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. The Agency has three programs: Veterans Benefit Assistance, Veterans Cemeteries (Boulder City and Fernley), and a Veterans Nursing Home (Boulder City). There are approximately 339,000 veterans residing in Nevada eligible for these services. For more information, call NOVS toll free at 1-866-630-VETS (8387) or visit our Website at www.veterans.nv.gov.