Retired Lt Col. Joe Lewis was inspired to start the Colorado Springs-based nonprofit Angels of America’s Fallen after losing friends in every branch of the military.

Two of his friends in the Marine Corps had children on the way they never got to meet before they died.

“Knowing those kids had to grow up their whole lives without the guidance and support of their parents made me think what would happen to my sons if I didn’t make it home,” said Lewis, who served in the Army National Guard, Marine Corps and Air Force.

El Paso County honored Lewis as its 2023 Veteran of the Year during a luncheon Monday for his nonprofit’s work to support 550 children through 40,000 developmental activities, such as sports, music and the arts.

Lewis wants to ensure kids who have lost parents are engaged in activities so they don’t become withdrawn or depressed, he said. The nonprofit supports children who lose their parents to combat, training accidents, suicide or any other condition related to their service.

During the same event, The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC honored outstanding enlisted service members across three categories — junior enlisted, noncommissioned officers and senior noncommissioned officers. The event honored the contributions of 17 service members and from among those the chamber chose a top enlisted service member in each category.

Command Sgt. Major Alex Kupratty, from Fort Carson, spoke during the event and honored the contributions of service members across the branches and their selflessness.

“Our country expects us to walk through the darkest valleys and weather the coldest nights and troop through the hottest days,” he said.

The three enlisted service members have all also given back to their communities in significant ways.

Navy Information Systems Technician 3rd Class D’Nae Wilson has coached basketball and cheerleading at Sierra High School and worked with three high schools in town  to develop cyber safety and security training for thousands of students. Wilson is assigned to Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Fort Carson Sgt. Noreen Lim, a chemical, biological radiological and nuclear specialist, worked with the Red Cross while on assignment in Poland to build relationships between American and Polish soldiers. While there, she organized visits to orphanages and volleyball playoffs among other activities. She also connected soldiers with Red Cross services.

Sgt. 1st Class  Michael O’Brien, the operations noncommissioned officer in charge with Fort Carson, coaches soccer, football and volleyball. He also volunteers with the Colorado Springs Therapeutic Riding Center and Unharnessed Potential, a nonprofit that specializes in using horses to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

O’Brien said he started coaching in the recreational league because he expected it would be a good bonding experience with his daughter, Anneliese. Since she turned 13 Monday, she won’t be eligible to play on the team he signed up to coach, so she will be assisting him.

He gained experience coaching by teaching soldiers mountaineering and arctic survival skills, he said.

Despite his extraordinarily busy calendar, he didn’t expect to see the top honors at the event.

“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams that I would win,” he said.