LAWRENCE — Francisco Urena is the youngest veterans services director in the state. He is also now one of the best.
Urena, a Marine sergeant and Purple Heart recipient, was named the state's Veterans Services Director of the Year. The 27-year-old earned the distinction, in part, for his tireless work with the family of Army Sgt. Alex Jimenez, a Lawrence man missing in Iraq for more than a year now.
"What a wonderful guy. Lawrence is really lucky to have him there," said Thomas Kelley, secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services.
Kelley presented Urena with a large trophy Wednesday during the veterans directors' annual conference in Sturbridge. About 100 of the 250 veterans services directors from around the state attended. Urena almost didn't go to the conference. He wanted to stay in Lawrence to work with veterans.
"I was very surprised and I was humbled," said Urena, the son of Ramona Montilla of Lawrence. "There were so many veterans services directors from across the state that do an awesome job."
Hired in February 2007, Urena stepped into an office in turmoil. He replaced Daniel Lannon, 57, who was fired the fall before for neglect of his duties.
Urena hit the ground running, volunteering to do the job before he was officially hired. He quickly made a positive impression in the city and statewide.
"Francisco just came in and turned things around," Kelley said.
Then, when Jimenez went missing on May 12, 2007, Urena, in a heartbeat, was doing whatever he could to help the family and the community cope.
"Taking care of the Jimenez family has almost been a full-time job in itself," said Kelley, noting Urena did much of this work on his own time. "He reaches far and beyond what he's supposed to be doing."
Urena was nominated for this year's award by a half-dozen workers in the state veterans office.
"Francisco stood head and shoulders above the rest," Kelley said. "We wish we had 250 Franciscos from around the state."
Methuen's Jim Wareing, founding director of New England Caring Our Military, works closely with Urena. He said the state award "is absolutely fantastic and well-deserved."
"We have very good veterans agents throughout the Merrimack Valley. He is exceptional. ... He cares for the veterans incredibly," Wareing said. "I'm glad they recognized him and I think the veterans would agree with that."
Urena served in the Marines for eight years and earned the Purple Heart for wounds he received as a tank commander in Combat Operation Iraq in June 2005.
Today, a half-dime-sized piece of shrapnel is still embedded in his left cheek. He was struck by a metal fragment when a van exploded while he was sticking his head out of a tank.
He also received other military awards, including a Navy recognition for heroic achievement in Iraq, the Good Conduct Medal and the Iraq Campaign Service Medal. As a Boy Scout, he earned the Eagle Scout award, Scouting's highest honor.
Urena, who is single, said he enjoys working with veterans.
"It's a job that's really rewarding," he said. He likes helping veterans who come to his office "leave in a better situation than they came in."
"It's great to be able to assist veterans and their families so they have a better quality of life," Urena said.
The job requires flexibility because the needs of veterans can't always be addressed during business hours from behind a desk, he said.
"I'm proud to serve the city of Lawrence and its veterans," Urena said.
He can be reached at City Hall at 978-620-3282.
