At the County Council meeting on May 9th, 2023, Mr. Ed Lundeen, Veteran’s Affairs Officer for Lexington County was presented with a Resolution recognizing his selection as the 2023 SC Veterans Service Officer of the Year by the South Carolina Association of County Veteran’s Affairs Officers.
This award recognizes a County Veteran’s Affairs Officer who has shown unusual initiative and imagination in the performance of their duty and has made outstanding contributions to the Veterans in the State of South Carolina and has contributed to the betterment of the South Carolina Veteran’s Affairs Association.
Mr. Lundeen has served in this position since he was appointed on July 1, 2011.
During his tenure as the VA Officer for Lexington County, Mr. Lundeen has accomplished the following: He has provided a veteran volunteer to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at all regularly scheduled County Council meetings without missing a meeting since March of 2012. He sponsors and supports the Lexington County Veterans Group and provides valuable and timely services to a county of over 25,000 Veterans. In addition, he is a life member of the following: American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the Army Historical Foundation, the 1814-Society, the Association of the U.S. Army, and the Non-Commissioned Officers Association. He is a Founding Sponsor of the National Museum of the U.S. Army. He currently serves of the Executive Board of the SC Chapter of the Battle of the Bulge Association and is a member of the Midland Veterans Engagement Council.
Mr. Lundeen served on active duty in the United States Army from 1984-2005 and retired with the rank of Master Sergeant. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003-04. He served in a variety of non-commissioned Officer leadership roles. While stationed at Fort Jackson he achieved the title of Master Instructor.
Mr. Lundeen has received The Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals: six Army Commendation Medals: eleven Army Achievement Medals: the Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star: six Good Conduct Medals: the Presidential Unit Citation: the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Army Superior Unit Award.
Mr. Lundeen received the highest accolade in the U.S. Army in 1999, the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe. This prestigious award is for those that have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character and displayed an outstanding professional competence to the Ordnance Corps.
Mr. Lundeen credited his hardworking staff for this award and gave thanks to God for allowing him to serve the Veterans of Lexington County.
When asked what he was most proud of during his tenure as a Veteran’s Affairs Officer, Lundeen said, “I am most proud of not missing a single Lexington County Council meeting with a veteran volunteer to say the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Lexington County is truly blessed to have a man like Ed Lundeen serving the veterans of the county.