The non-profit organization Mission Complete hosted the first annual Veterans Awards on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 to honor the work of organizations providing support to veterans. The event allowed hundreds of veterans and their families to gather for a Veterans Day celebration.
Sparta Pride, Women Veterans Rock, the 296 Project, Veterans Multi-service Center and Team Rubicon won Vetty awards for excellence in advocating for veterans.
“Some of them are homeless, some of them are jobless. Some of them are living under a bridge, just a mile away from the White House,” Assal Ravandi, founder and CEO of Mission Complete, said about veterans.
For Ravandi, it is crucial to shine light on the dedication and efforts of organizations that cater to service members who have risked their lives on the battlefield and deserve assistance when reintegrating into civilian life.
Actress Kate Walsh, best known for playing Dr. Addison Montgomery in “Grey’s Anatomy” and whose father was a Korean War veteran, presented the one of the awards.
“There are so many hard working men and women who do everything they can and risk their lives. Some of them lose their lives. I do anything I can to bring attention to the needs of our men and women when they come home and assimilate back into society,” Walsh said.
Actor Colin Egglesfield said that presenting an award at the Vettys was his way of recognizing the hard work of thousands of service members.
“Without the men and women who guard our country, guard our Constitution, and provide for us the freedoms that we enjoy here in this country, we wouldn’t have a country,” Egglesfield said.
Seventeen organizations were nominated in five categories: Veterans Health, Veterans Community, Women Veterans, Homeless Veterans and LGBT Veterans.
Blake Dremann, a Navy veteran and member of Sparta Pride, said the purpose of the Vetty award is to reach more people and amassing more support. He accepted the award on behalf of the organization that advocates for LBGT military members and veterans.
“What it really means is showing people that transgender veterans exist and they need the support of the larger community,” said Dremann, who transitioned while serving in the military. The Navy, still lists Dremann as a woman.
Linda Lee, Women Veterans ROCK! Mistress of Veterans Day Ceremonies, stands with friends at The Veterans Awards on November 11, 2015.
“Our hard work has definitely paid off. It means a lot to get this award. It means that we’re doing something right,” Lee said.
“We had hoped today to be able to declare that we had achieved an end in homelessness among veterans in Philadelphia,” Maura Gillen, deputy executive director at the Veterans Multi-service Center, said.
Gillen, who accepted the Homeless Veterans Vetty award, said that it was an honor to have been nominated and to have earned national recognition.
Two Honorary Vettys were awarded to the Military Order of the Purple Heart and George Washington University’s Operation Valor. The ceremony was held at GWU’s Lisner Auditorium.
“We assist veterans navigating through the VA superstructure. We were instrumental in helping some veterans last year realize some $300 million worth of benefits,” Robert Puskar, national commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, said upon receiving the award.
The 269 Project won for Mental Health category, and Team Rubicon for the Veterans Community category.
By Kelvin Suddason and Amanda Guillen via infoZine
VETERANS COMMUNITY
Operation First Response, Inc.
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Disabled Veteran Business Alliance
Green Beret Foundation
Team Rubicon (WINNER)
MENTAL HEALTH
Give an Hour
The 296 Project (WINNER)
The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Veterans Center at
NYU Langone Medical Center
WOMEN VETERANS
Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes
Women Veterans ROCK! (WINNER)
Women Veterans Interactive
HOMELESS VETERANS
Alpha Omega Veterans Services
Veterans Multi-Service Center (WINNER)
Atlas Research
LGBT VETERANS
American Veterans for Equal Rights
The DC Center for the LGBT Community
SPARTA Pride (WINNER)
HONORARY VETTY RECIPIENTS
Military Order of the Purple Heart
The George Washington University
