Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Rick Weidman, Executive Director of Government Affairs with Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) "Our founding principle at Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is to never again have one generation of American Veterans abandon another," says Rick Weidman, the advocacy organization's Executive Director of Government Affairs. The passionate former Army medic works hard to stand up for Veterans issues beyond those affecting his own generation.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Joseph H. Boardman, CEO of Amtrak A recurring theme in our Post-9/11 world is the concern that we maintain the country’s economic and homeland security at the highest possible level. There are few areas that reflect this concern more than our nation’s transportation system. The executive charged not only with keeping our nation’s freight and passenger rail system safe, but also with helping to breathe new life into Amtrak, is Joseph Boardman, an Air Force veteran and long-time public servant.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Sidney Poitier, Academy Award-winning Actor Not many Academy Award-winning actors started out as immigrant teens washing dishes. But Sidney Poitier, a young orphan desperate to emerge from poverty and make something of himself, faced his raw beginnings by joining the U.S. Army and has made history as a trailblazing actor ever since.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Major General Charles F. Bolden, Jr. USMC, Ret., NASA Administrator For decades, the best-known Marine Corps Astronaut-turned public servant was Senator John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth. In 2009, nearly 50 years into America's Space Age, once again a Marine claimed a special place in space history and public administration, as Major General Charles F. Bolden, Jr, USMC, Ret. became the first African-American and the second former astronaut to lead NASA.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Ed Koch, Late Mayor of NYC, and WWII Veteran Born in the Bronx to immigrant Polish Jewish parents, Koch was drafted into the wartime Army in 1943 and earned two battle stars in Europe as an infantryman.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steelers Star Running Back, Vietnam Veteran Forty-five years since both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the U.S. Army drafted him, Rocky Bleier continues be the ultimate teammate – and one who recognizes his fellow veterans.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Col. Jack Jacobs, Vice Chairman of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation In 1967, Col. Jack H. Jacobs joined the Army as a young lieutenant in Vietnam. He would serve eighteen years in the forces before retiring as a colonel and recipient of t
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: General David H. Petraeus, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency General David Petraeus is hardly living the life of your typical military retiree – as head of the Central Intelligence Agency, his impact is far reaching and increasingly in the public eye. Outside of presidents and prime ministers, a select few can lay claim to being a household name across the globe, and also have the responsibility in securing their safety and well being.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Rick Rescorla, Vietnam Vet and 9/11 Hero Rick Rescorla was highly decorated for his battlefield bravery in Vietnam, even portrayed in a hit movie and popular book. As the head of security of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, he drilled employees regularly on evacuation from the Twin Towers, always believing it was vulnerable to a terrorist attack.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Eric Greitens, Chairman and CEO of The Mission Continues Eric Greitens, a Navy SEAL Officer and Iraq War Veteran, has tapped into a unique blend of brains, heart and guts to serve his fellow Veterans. With intelligence, kindness and courage, he is doing more than helping those less fortunate get back on their feet - he is showing them how to lead in a mission-critical way.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Bonnie Carroll, Founder of T*A*P*S Grief is a powerful emotion. Left unexpressed, it can consume one’s life. However, with the proper outlet to express it, grief can lead to healing and even hope.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Joseph J. Grano, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Centurion Holdings Joe Grano has done much more than proving a kid with working-class roots can make it on the battlefield and in the boardroom. The former Green Beret earned his place with a front-row seat to events that have shaped our history over the last four decades. Today, he channels his energy and experience to inspire younger generations – including fellow vets – to find their path to success.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Times Square Heroes, Vietnam Veterans Alert Police of Bomber Threat Many times acts of heroism are embodied by the famous and powerful. But sometimes it can be just an everyday face in the crowd, an ordinary person who steps up to do something extraordinary. On the evening on May 1, 2010, two seemingly ordinary people tapped into their Veterans experience to save lives at one of the nation’s most-famous public spaces: Times Square, New York City.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Navajo Code Talkers More than sixty-five years since some of the bloodiest battles in American history, a small group of Veterans who fought in them, our earliest Americans, are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Bob Kingsley, Supporting Those Who Serve Bob Kingsley is big in American Country Music circles. He’s a leading country music radio personality and host of nationally syndicated programs, a standard for over three decades. He’s also an Air Force vet who makes supporting those who serve a life priority, including Veterans Advantage partner Wounded Warrior Project.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America For Queens, New York native John Rowan, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America, helping fellow troops in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan and beyond will always be something near – and very dear – to his heart.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Senate Chaplain Barry Black As is the case each year, Mother’s Day 2009 reminded us all of our moms and their role and impact in our lives. For the Navy’s own Barry Black, U.S. Senate Chaplain, mom is a central figure in his life of service to the country.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF, Retired Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF, Retired, is a career trailblazer whose efforts are receiving the praises of the Obama White House. Serving in the Air Force for more than 28 years, she was one of the few military women in the Vietnam War who was not a nurse. Inspired by the efforts of her fellow servicewomen, she led the campaign to build a national memorial to recognize their service.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet Brian Delate, Award-winning Actor and Director For Vietnam veteran and award-winning actor/director Brian Delate, the traumatic events of 9/11 underscore the challenge for generations of servicemen and women —to bring closure and meaning to their own painful battlefield memories. By recalling his own personal story, and tapping into his passion for art, he is optimistic about restoring the lives of those who need extra help.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Paul Newman, A Legacy of Film, Family and Philanthropy When WWII Navy Veteran Paul Newman died on September 26, tributes came from as far away as Iran as well as from Hollywood colleagues, many of whom wondered how such a global star, solid family man, businessman and philanthropist could defy many of the leading Hollywood conventions and stereotypes.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA Founder Many serve, few are chosen, but even fewer find a way to lead. For Paul Rieckhoff, the War on Terror has shown its face in many ways, and at each turn he's become more committed to one politically unifying goal: re-architecting the way those who serve are thanked by the nation they defend.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Greg Islan, on College Tuition Millions of Americans carry the heavy burden of making college tuition payments in an era of skyrocketing educational expenses. We all need help, but for the families of fallen servicemen, sending children to college can be an extraordinary challenge. Greg Islan’s goal is to meet that critical challenge, offering financial assistance to dependents surviving the death of a parent in uniform. His hard work and persistence in promoting this program sends a strong, patriotic message and demonstrates his resolve to stand behind the men and women who protect and defend our freedoms and care for those left behind.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Paul W. Bucha - 2007 Nearly 40 years after his moment of military heroism, Medal Of Honor (MOH) recipient Paul W. “Buddy” Bucha stands as more than a role model. He’s in the business of showing people how to become role models themselves.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: L. Gordon Sumner Executive Director, National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (NCESGR) With a unique blend of civilian and military expertise, L. Gordon Sumner, Jr., Ph.D. leads 4,200 volunteers who serve as a vital lifeline between the war on terror overseas and Americas’ employers and families, as they welcome back our National Guard & Reserves.
