Finalist for Ms Veteran America Has McCreary County Ties

A five-year Army Veteran with strong McCreary County ties has been named as a finalist in the Ms Veteran American 2015 competition.  Heather Worley, a resident of Phenix City, Alabama and graduate of Auburn University, will represent her region in in the finals to be held in Las Vega, Nevada on October 18, 2015.

Heather is a distant relative of the McCreary County Rosses, including her late step grandmother, Alma Ruth Ross.  She married McCreary County native Durwin Worley who is the son of Sandra Harris and grandson of Laura and Orville Gregory.  While serving in Iraq, the couple had a flag flown over their base and donated it for display at the McCreary County Courthouse.

During her military career, Heather’s resume includes service in South Korea, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Ms Veteran America is the major annual event for Final Salute Inc, a non-profit which focuses its efforts on meeting the needs of women Veterans to both prevent and bring them out of homelessness.  One of the main reasons Heather, who volunteers at a homeless shelter and helps provide resources to the homeless, was drawn to the competition is because of its focus on the growing problem of homelessness among female veterans.  Women veterans continue to be the fastest growing demographic among the homeless population, even in the face of a national push to end homelessness within the overall veteran population.

Although the competition features gown wear and awards a crown, the competition is not a beauty pageant.  Contestants are judged on talent, interview, military history, and advocacy.

More information can be found at FinalSaluteInc.org.