Blinded American Veterans Foundation Sets 18th Annual Congressional Awards Ceremony; Two Members of Congress to be Honored

6/10/2003

From: John Fales of the Blinded American Veterans Foundation, 202-257-5446

News Advisory:

The Blinded American Veterans Foundation (BAVF) will hold its 18th Annual Congressional Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 12, in Room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The annual event, held in conjunction with the Foundation's Flag Day observance, honors Members of Congress, the media, and volunteers.

"This is a special time of year for the Foundation, for it centers around the day our country pays tribute to the American flag," said BAVF president John Fales. "It also gives us the opportunity to honor members of Congress and those in the media who have helped the millions of men and women who were willing to put their lives on the line in defense of our flag and for all it stands, as well as to thank some of the many volunteers who have helped the Foundation since its beginning."

Members of Congress receiving the 2003 George "Buck" Gillispie Congressional Award for Meritorious Service are U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (South Dakota) and Representative Christopher Smith (New Jersey). The award is named in honor of the blinded World War II veteran who devoted more than 40 years toward efforts to aid in the rehabilitation of visually impaired veterans.

Sen. Tim Johnson serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Committee on the Budget, and chairs the Financial Institutions Subcommittee of the Senate Banking Committee. He also serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. He served as South Dakota's congressman for five terms before being elected to the Senate in 1996.

Rep. Chris Smith chairs the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the House International Relations Committee and as Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He is the prime sponsor of seven new laws to provide new and expanded services and benefits to America's 25 million military veterans. He was first elected to Congress in 1980.

Receiving this year's Carlton Sherwood Media Award are Tom Philpott, syndicated military news columnist and free-lance writer, and John McDermott, the internationally acclaimed recording star and noted veterans advocate.

This year's recipients of the George Alexander Memorial Award for Volunteer Service are Jonathan A. Buth, regional account manager with Pfizer's National Healthcare Operations, and Ralph deToledano, "dean" of the Washington correspondents and acclaimed author. The Foundation's Corporate Award will be presented to assistive technology pioneer Ted Henter.

John Hanchette, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter with Gannett News Service, will emcee the event.

The Blinded American Veterans Foundation assists blinded and sensory-disabled veterans in attaining their full potential through research, rehabilitation, and re-employment. It offers employment networking and rehabilitation and resource counseling, and provides funding for rehabilitation centers. Other programs include a speaker's bureau, placement services, and compilation of related statistics. The BAVF also conducts research and educational and charitable programs. This valuable service is performed strictly with volunteers and without a paid staff.