National Veterans Day Foundation

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National Veterans Day Foundation

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National Veterans Award Dinner

Friday, November 10, 2023 - Reception at 5pm - Dinner at 6pm

A perpetual National Veterans Award was created in Birmingham for America’s first official National Veterans Day observance November 11, 1954 as authorized by Congress. Its purpose is to honor an outstanding veteran in the United States each year who has made the greatest contribution to further the patriotic interests of veterans and veteran organizations throughout the country. Every year, the award is presented at the National Veterans Award Dinner in Birmingham.


This year marks the 76th Anniversary of National Veterans Day in Birmingham. Our annual dinner will be on the evening of November 10th, in the Sheraton Downtown Birmingham Ballroom, at 2101 Richard Arrington Blvd. Tickets need to be purchased in advance. Details to follow. The events will begin at 5:00pm, with a reception prior to the awards dinner.  Face coverings are recommended, but not required, for the event. We look forward to having you join us as we celebrate our nation’s true superheroes.

2022 Awards Dinner Photos

    National Veterans Award Recipients, 1954 - Present

    A perpetual National Veterans Award was created in Birmingham for America’s first official National Veterans Day observance November 11, 1954 as authorized by Congress. Its purpose is to honor an outstanding veteran in the United States each year who has made the greatest contribution to further the patriotic interests of veterans and veteran organizations throughout the country. Every year, the award is presented at the National Veterans Award Dinner in Birmingham.

    1954 - Congressman Edward H. Rees

    1955 - Harvey V. Higley, National Administration of Veterans Affairs 

    1956 - General Mark Clark, President of the Citadel

    1957 - General Lucius D. Clay, Chairman of the Board, Continental Can Co.

    1958 - Governor Ernest Vandiver - Georgia, Governor E.F. Hollings - South Carolina,  and Governor John Patterson - Alabama.

    1959 - General Alfred M. Gruenther, President of the American Red Cross 

    1960 - Sumner G. Whittier, Chief of the Veterans Administration

    1961 - General James A. Van Fleet 

    1962 - John S. Gleason, National Administrator of Veterans Affairs 

    1963 - General Mathew B. Ridgeway 

    1964 - General J. Lawton Collins 

    1965 - General David Sarnoff, Chairman of the Board, RCA

    1966 - General Paul D. Adams, Strike Commander

    1967 - Donald M. Kendall, CEO, Pepsi-Cola Company

    1968 - General Lauris Norstad, NATO Commander

    1969 - Colonel Roscoe Turner

    1970 - General Omar N. Bradley, General of the Army

    1971 - Lieutenant General James Doolittle

    1972 - Brigadier General James Stewart 

    1973 - Charles A. Lindberg 

    1974 - Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff 

    1975 - General Lewis B. Hershey, Director Selective Service System

    1976 - Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong 

    1977 - General William C Westmoreland, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army

    1978 - Brigadier General Paul W. Tibbits, Jr. 

    1979 - Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, Chief of Naval Operations

    1980 - General Louis Wilson, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps

    1981 - Captain Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. 

    1982 - Admiral Hyman G. Rickover 

    1983 - Brigadier General Joseph J. Foss 

    1984 - Congressman G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery

    1985 - General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. 

    1986 - Senator Barry M. Goldwater 

    1987 - Vernon A. Walters, Ambassador to the United Nations

    1988 - Senator Sam Nunn 

    1989 - Senator Howell Heflin 

    1990 - General William J. Livsey, Commander, Eighth Army

    1991 - Senator Daniel Inouye 

    1992 - General Charles Horner, Commander, U.S. Space Command 

    1993 - Major General Mary E. Clarke, Rear Admiral Fran McKee

    1994 - Lieutenant General John J. Yeosock

    1995 - COL William R. Lawley, Jr., Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, MSG Henry E. Erwin, CPT Maurice Britt, CPT Jack Lucas

    1996 - General Raymond G. Davis 

    1997 - Colonel Ola Lee Mize 

    1998 - General George A. Joulwan 

    1999 - General Dennis J. Reimer 

    2000 - General Carl E. Mundy, Jr. 

    2001 - Major General J. Gary Cooper 

    2002 - Lieutenant General Robert F. Foley 

    2003 - Major Bert Bank

    2004 - Major General Donald R. Gardner 

    2005 - Colonel Leo K. Thorsness

    2006 - Lieutenant General Hal Moore 

    2007 - Colonel H.C. "Barney" Barnum, Jr. 

    2008 - Lieutenant General Ron Christmas 

    2009 - Admiral Frank B. Kelso 

    2010 - General Charles C. Krulak 

    2011 - Colonel William M. Voigt 

    2012 - Colonel George "Bud" Day 

    2013 - Tuskegee Airmen

    2014 - Senator Robert "Bob" Dole 

    2015 - Ronald E. Rosser, Sergeant First Class

    2016 - Command Sergeant Major, Bennie G. Adkins

    2017 - Navajo Code Talkers

    2018 - Captain Gary Michael Rose 2019 - Jeff Sessions

    2020 - WWII Veterans

    2021 - Military Covid Responders

    2022 - Medal of Honor Recipients

    Raymond Weeks National Veterans Award Trophy 

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