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AWARDS THEView this page in the flipbook
AMVETS · The 2022 Awards Gala · 10-page brochure
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AWARDS THEView this page in the flipbook
The AMVETS Silver Helmet Award, a unique silver replica of the World War II GI helmet, has over the years acquired a well-deserved repu- tation as the most prestigious of all the awards given by veterans organiza- tions and is now known as the “Veterans’ Oscar. ” The Silver Helmet Awards recognize excellence and outstanding accom- plishment in the fields of Americanism, Defense, Rehabilitation, Congres- sional & Civil Service, Peace, as well as the AMVET of the Y ear.View this page in the flipbook
Program of Events Introduction of Processional: Master of Ceremonies Joe Chenelly Invocation: National Chaplain Gary Sallade Presentational of Colors: Armed Forces Color Guard National Anthem Pledge of Allegiance: National Provost Marshal Arthur L. Majors Department of Colors: Armed Forces Color Guard POW/MIA Ceremony: National Second Vice Commander Bill Clark Armed Forces Medley Introductions: Master of Ceremonies Joe Chenelly Welcome: National Commander Greg Heun Musical Interlude Guardian Award: Rob Quick National Aid/Support Award: Rick Beaulieu Humanitarian Award: Andrew Lumish 2022 Silver Helmet in Rehabilitation: Timothy Cooke 2022 Silver Helmet in Congressional: Bill Cassidy 2022 Silver Helmet in Civil Servant: Dr. John Henry Felix 2022 Silver Helmet Special Award: Michael Amodio 2022 Silver Helmet AMVET of the Year: Peter Romano Musical Interlude Closing Remarks: Master of Ceremonies Joe Chenelly God Bless America Benediction: National Chaplain Gary SalladeView this page in the flipbook
Good evening and thank you for joining us for AMVETS’ 2022 Silver Helmet Awards Gala. The AMVETS Silver Helmet Award‚ a unique silver replica of the World War II GI hel- met‚ has over the years acquired a well-deserved reputation as the most prestigious of all the awards given by veterans organizations and is now known as the “Veterans Oscar.” The AMVETS Silver Helmet Awards ceremony recognizes excellence and outstanding accomplishment in the fields of Americanism, defense, rehabilitation, congressional, civil service, and our AMVET of the Year. The AMVETS Silver Helmet Awards Gala is held annually during AMVETS’ Annual National Convention each Fall. In addition to AMVETS members, the audience includes cabinet members‚ members of Congress and military officials who come to pay tribute to the recipients of the award and AMVETS. Past recipients include President Dwight Eisenhower, President H.W. Bush and First LadyBarbara Bush, Henry Kissinger, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lee Greenwood, Pope Paul the Fourth, Colin Powell, and many more. In addition to the Silver Helmet Awards, the AMVETS Auxiliary, since 1976, presents the Humanitarian Award to an outstanding American who serves our country in peace and war, who builds and maintains the welfare of the United States of America toward lasting prosperity and peace for all its inhabitants. The Sons of AMVETS also recognize a distinguished civic leader for their National Aid and Support. You will hear from AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary President Joan Sirek, Sons of AMVETS Commander Paul Speigle, and National Rider’s President John Reando later tonight as they announce the recipients of their respective awards. Please enjoy yourselves and thank you for joining us in honoring these worthy award recipients. COMMANDERS WELCOMEView this page in the flipbook
ROB QUICK Guardian Award 2022 Leading Petty officer Auxiliary Division USS Sides FFG-14 83-85 1 Western Pacific (WESPAC) Deployment E-5 Engineman Second Class Decorations: Battle “E”, Sea Service, Good Conduct, Navy Achievement Medal, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Insignia. After his Naval service Rob Founded B & B Siding in 1986, A successful business in the St. Louis Missouri area. Rob joined the AMVETS 2004, into Post 1 MO. A Post of which his own Father and Uncles were members, and his first position was Post Judge Advocate in 2006. He was a Char- ter member of the Riders Chapter in 2007. He was instrumental in Chartering the Riders Department in 2008 as the Department President from 2008 through 2010. Rob then began his accent to the Riders National President for the years 2013-2015. Rob has sat on many AMVETS National Committees since to include, National AMVETS VSAC 2015- Chair in 2018-2019, National AMVETS Membership committee 2015 to present, AMVETS National Sons of AMVETS Coordinator 2016-2017. Rob founded “Robs Dirty Garage” in 2004 at his house about the same time he joined the AMVETS. He saw the need for members of the Post and the Veteran community to not only need activities outside of the Canteen, but to be around like-minded people that they could talk too on a one-to-one basis and working on motorcycles gave many people that oppor- tunity. The Brotherhood/Sisterhood is strong even when no words are being said. Being there, may just help someone get through the day and has proven to prevent several Veteran Suicides. Rob Has been a huge advocate in the prevention of Veteran Suicide Awareness throughout his many years in the AMVETS, serving on the National Suicide Prevention committee and being the AMVETS National point of contact for the State of Missouri. Rob was one of the very few individuals directly involved in the formation of the “Rolling to Remember” demonstration ride in Washington DC over Memorial weekend which highlights POW accountability and Veteran Suicide Prevention. Rob Quick’s military career started like most of the early ‘80s, in the shadow of the Vietnam Vets that served in the Gulf of Tonkin. Life is not easy on ships, work and training is tough to ensure survival if they were ever called back to being a war time Navy. No less stress- ful on a day-to-day basis. Tug Engineer at Mare Island Naval ShipyardView this page in the flipbook
RICHARD BEAULIEU National Aid/Support Award Richard enlisted in the United States Army in November of 1967. He was sent to Fort Dix, NJ for basic training then to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for advanced training. On completion he was sent to the Republic of Vietnam. While serving in Vietnam, along with other awards, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal twice, one with “V” device for his action under fire during hostile attack. Rich- ard served in Vietnam from May 1968 through July 1970, when he was discharged with the rank of Specialist E-5 (Sargent). He is currently a member of the American Legion, Moose and a life member of the VFW and AMVETS. AMVETS became his passion for the work they perform and their dedicated service to Veterans, their families and community. Commander Beaulieu held numerous positions in the Post before becoming Commander of Post 2000 Warm Mineral Springs FL, a position he held for 3 years before becoming the District X Commander. He held this position for a period of 2 years. The Commander has also held numer- ous positions on various Committees at the Department level and is currently serving as Sons Co-ordinator for the AMVETS Department of FL, a position he relishes well and performs with consummate ease. While working with the AMVET Family, Commander Beaulieu became a staunch Sons support- er The Commander was one of the first Florida AMVET members to “Walk the Hili’’ with the Sons of AMVETS, laying a wreath at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in DC which he defined as, “ His eventual moment of closure and welcome home”. The signature program of the Sons in Florida is their Veterans Mobility Assistance Program (VMAP). Realizing the importance of this effort to improve the quality of life for his comrades, Rick became a leader by example. He initiated a newspaper ad to request donations of unused units. The response was overwhelming. Rick, side by side with the Sons, making countless treks to obtain these units. He aided in the refurbishments which significantly expanded the Direct to Vet outreach of the program. To this day, you can find Rick crisscrossing Florida picking up mobility units that will make their way to supply freedom of action for other Veterans. Rick has also served as AMVETS Department of Florida Sons Coordinator. His advice has been immeasurable in helping Squadrons in dealing with the intricacies at the grassroots level. He has served AMVETS well and in the best traditions of the organization. A person of action and one that has earned the respect of the Sons in Florida and across the country by continuing to serve.View this page in the flipbook
TIMOTHY COOKE 2022 Silver Helmet in Rehabilitation Timothy J. Cooke was appointed as the Medical Center Director/ CEO of the V A Healthcare System in Orlando, Florida on Jan- uary 19, 2020. From engineering intern to Executive Director of a medical center, Timothy Cooke has grown as an engineer, global problem solver and executive leader during his career at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V A). While based at the Martinsburg V A Medical Center in West Virginia, Cooke worked at the V A Maryland Health Care System, before lending his expertise to the Southern Arizona V A Health Care System. He also served as Chief of En- gineering at the Jamaica Plain Campus during the V A Boston Healthcare System integration. He said he has valued the opportunity to mentor others throughout his career and appreciated the sense of mission that serving Veterans gives him every day. Mr. Cooke was personally recognized by the AMVETS department of DC with their top annual award in 2017 for making a difference in the lives of veterans and their families. In 2020, AMVETS Department of Maryland named him the recipient of its top award – the past National Commander A. Leo Anderson Memorial Freestate Award of Excellence. ANDREW LUMISH Humanitarian Award Andrew Lumish, otherwise known as “The Good Cemeterian” is recognized around the world for his work restoring countless monuments for those who served our country and recalling each of his “honorees” genealogical life journey to a global audience. Born in New York, his career includes stops worldwide, includ- ing the United Nations, the World Trade Center, and Metropolitan Opera House to name a few. Most importantly, Mr. Lumish is a proud father and the architect of his non-profit foundation “The Good Cemeterian Historical Preservation Project”. Although his organization was born from tragic circumstances it now endorses and encourages positiv- ity, hope, and healing through storytelling and conservation. His foundation has and continues to support veterans groups, scouting projects, schools, and everyday individuals with the desire to make a unique difference in their communities and complete important projects with deep meaning to them. Andrew and his work have been featured on programs including CBS News, Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, CNN, Fox & Friends, the Glenn Beck Radio Program, and many other media outlets.View this page in the flipbook
BILL CASSIDY 2022 Silver Helmet in Congressional Dr. Bill Cassidy is the United States Senator for Louisiana. He co-founded the Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic, a clinic providing free dental and health care to the working uninsured. Bill also created a private-public partnership to vaccinate 36,000 greater Baton Rouge area children against Hepatitis B at no cost to the schools or parents. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Bill led a group of health care volunteers to convert an abandoned K-Mart building into an emergency health care facility, provid- ing basic health care to hurricane evacuees. In 2006, Bill was elected to the Louisiana State Senate, and in 2008, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives to represent Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District. In 2014, he was elected to the U.S. Sen- ate. He serves on the Finance Committee, the Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Commit- tee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Veterans Affairs committees. In 2019, he co-penned a letter to President Trump, asking him to designate a single state funeral for the last Medal of Honor Recipient from WWII and the 16 million men and women who served. That year he also introduced Senate-passing legislation to lower taxes from Gold Star families, and in 2021 supported the Charitable Equity for Veterans Act of 2021. Following his successful efforts to lower the cost of health care, secure coastal restoration projects to protect Louisiana families from natural disasters, reform our nation’s mental health system, and secure many other legislative accomplishments, Bill was reelected in 2020 to his second term in the U.S. Senate. DR. JOHN HENRY FELIX 2022 Silver Helmet in Civil Servant Dr. John Henry Felix’s accomplishments are too many to name but include becoming an Eagle Scout and serving as the inau- gural chair of Hawaii Public Radio from 1979 to 1985. He also served as the Chief of Staff, the Military Aide and Chief of Protocol for Governor Quinn, retiring with the rank of Colonel from the Hawaii State Guard. Dr. Felix spent 17 years as a reserve officer with the Honolulu Police Department and chaired every major City & County of Honolulu board or commission but one. During the Vietnam War he served as a non-combatant in the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Dr. Felix also served as Wing Commander of the USAF-Civil Air Patrol’s Hawaii Wing and was an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer. For veterans the most important reason to honor Dr. John Henry Felix is his donation of land to the Hawaii State Veterans Ceme- tery. This gift of acreage allows Veterans to be buried for years to come in a beautiful spot in Kaneohe. Dr. Felix served in the US Army during the Korean War, and he served in the 442nd Infantry Reserves as well as the Hawaii State Guard. He was a Wing Commander of the USAF-Civil Air Patrol’s Hawaii Wing, and was an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer. He helped the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Soci- eties. Due to health reasons, Dr. Felix was presented his Silver Helmet in Hawaii in April of 2022.View this page in the flipbook
MICHAEL AMODIO 2022 Silver Helmet Special Award Michael Amodio is a member of AMVETS Post 111, located in Patchogue, New York. He has served as Post Second Vice Commander, Chaplain, and editor of our newsletter for which he won the national award for best electronic newslet- ter in the past. Michael V olunteers at the Long Island state Veterans Home in Stony Brook twice a month. He is also involved with two other nonprofit organiza- tions: the guide dog and vet dog foundation in Smithtown New York, where he has raised nine service dogs that assist with handicapped veterans, as well as the Patchogue Rotary Animal Assisted Therapy Program, where he brings his dog the Long Island state veterans home, several hospitals, nursing homes, universities where patients and students interact with the dogs. Michael is an Army veteran. PETER ROMANIO 2022 Silver Helmet AMVET of the Year Peter Romano is a Marine Veteran (enlisted in 1984) and a proud New York AMVET. He serves as a Veterans Specialist at Workforce One Staten Island / EDSI Solutions, assisting veterans with finding employment.View this page in the flipbook
AMVETS American Veterans 4647 Forbes Boulevard Lanham, Maryland 20706 www.amvets.orgView this page in the flipbook