Lorraine Adkins honored with posthumous award

In this April 16, 2011 photo, Lorraine Adkins is seen addressing the crowd as the guest speaker at the Christopher Casey Sons of the Revolution Chapter at the NH Scheppers Distributing Clydesdale Room. She was given the Patriots Day Award at the event.
In this April 16, 2011 photo, Lorraine Adkins is seen addressing the crowd as the guest speaker at the Christopher Casey Sons of the Revolution Chapter at the NH Scheppers Distributing Clydesdale Room. She was given the Patriots Day Award at the event.

Among those honored with the Lieutenant Governor's Senior Service Award on Monday was Jefferson City's Lorraine Adkins, who died earlier this month after a brief illness.

Long known around town as Coach Pete Adkins' wife, Lorraine, 88, became better known for her work organizing the Wreaths for Heroes program.

Wreaths for Heroes was born after Adkins and her husband attended a 2009 Wreaths Across America event at Jefferson City's National Cemetery - and there was little community support.

"I knew then I had to do something," she told the News Tribune in 2011.

In less than a year, Adkins and a committee of about 15 were able to raise money, get most area schools involved, organize local vendors for donations and volunteers, and before Christmas 2010, put an artificial wreath and red bow on each of the National Cemetery's 1,587 graves.

The Lieutenant Governor's Senior Service Award, enacted in 2005, promotes and highlights the positive accomplishments Missouri's senior citizens provide to their local communities. 

This year, 61 winners were chosen from 153 applications, representing 55 counties across Missouri.

"This year we had a record number of winners for this award, a sign of the growing trend of baby boomers living longer and continuing to be productive members of our society," said Lt. Gov. Mike Parson.

Related: Lorraine Ruth Adkins' obituary