Awards Dinner Countdown

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

2023 - James Popwell, Veteran Marine and Founder of Flags for Vets, Inc.

2024 - Admiral Robert J. Natter