Costa Mesa Mayor Sandy Genis presented longtime Freedom Committee member Scott Williams with the Mayor’s Award at the June 19 City Council meeting.

Williams is a retired first lieutenant in the US Army and Vietnam veteran and an active volunteer in Costa Mesa and Orange County on the Freedom Committee of Orange County.

“For your years of service to this community, your extraordinary leadership, and your passion for sharing stories of military service to the youth of Orange County, it is my honor and privilege to present you with the Mayor’s Award,” Mayor Genis said.

Members of the Freedom Committee share their personal stories of service to more than 10,000 students and community members a year.

“We want veterans to continue to give back to the community,” Williams said. “That’s what we do by telling our stories and hoping that those who hear our stories pick up the character traits like responsibility, teamwork and getting there first.”