WeSalute Awards
VetFamily: Dennis Quaid
Actor Dennis Quaid has starred in dozens of movies, including “The Right Stuff,” “The Parent Trap,” “Breaking Away,” and next week’s new release entitled “Reagan” about the nation’s 40th president. Among his many awards, he received the New York Film Credits Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor in “Far from Heaven.” Throughout Quaid’s star studded career, his World War II veteran father motivated and inspired him.
WeSalute Awards
Cover Story: After 162 Years, Two Soldiers Finally Get Medal of Honor Recognition
Two Civil War veterans were posthumously awarded The Medal of Honor on July 3, 2024, just days before the 162nd anniversary of it being signed into law by President Lincoln. This recognition is the nation's highest award for military valor in action. To date, the Medal of Honor has been awarded to 3,519 service members who went above and beyond the call of duty.
WeSalute Awards
HeroVet: Captain Paul “Bud” Bucha: An American Hero
He was an Army brat, a competitive swimmer, a graduate of both West Point and Stanford, an infantry captain. He arrived in Vietnam in November 1967 commanding D Company -- the “Clerks and Jerks,” they were called -- the last company formed when the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division adopted a four-rifle company configuration.
WeSalute Awards
TopVet: Angelina Trillo
Angelina Trillo, Oregon Army National Guard medic, first-generation college student and daughter of an Army veteran, was recently named 2023 Student Veteran of the Year. She is the chapter president of the Student Veterans of America (SVA) for Oregon State University, where she will graduate this month with a B.S. in Political Science.
WeSalute Awards
TopRank: Ms. America Madison Marsh
Madison Marsh, a twenty-two year old, active duty Air Force Officer excited and inspired the country as she was crowned Miss America 2024 earlier this month.
WeSalute Awards
Scott’s View: Remembering Army Veteran and Award-Winning Journalist, Charles Osgood
Award-winning journalist Charles Osgood, renowned for anchoring "CBS Sunday Morning" for 22 years and hosting the long-running radio program "The Osgood File," passed away at the age of 91. He was an Army veteran and friend of Veterans Advantage during our early days.
WeSalute Awards
VetFamily: Kelly Ripa
Star talk show host Kelly Ripa started the 22nd season of her morning program “Live with Kelly and Mark” in September with her husband, Mark Consuelos. Besides being a likable personality with a successful television career, Ripa is a member of our military community. Both her father and father-in-law served in the military.
WeSalute Awards
TopRank: Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti
Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti made history last month by becoming the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy. The Senate voted 95-1 to name her Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). She becomes the first woman to join the elite group of senior military officers who make up the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The White House announced her nomination July 21 and she was sworn in as the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations in early November.
WeSalute Awards
VetFamily: Simone Biles
Olympic medalist Simone Biles re-entered the spotlight recently as the most decorated gymnast of all time, winning her 34th medal at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships this month in Antwerp, Belgium. In the stands to cheer her on was her dad Ron Biles, a United States Air Force veteran.
WeSalute Awards
VetFamily: Andy Reid
The 2023 National Football League season is in full swing, and once again the Kansas City Chiefs are favorites to take home the Lombardi Trophy as champions. With the discipline and leadership skills he learned growing up in a military family, Head Coach Andy Reid is looking to bring home a third championship since he joined the Chiefs in 2013.
WeSalute Awards
VetFamily: Dolly Parton
Music and entertainment Icon Dolly Parton will release her 49th solo album and first rock album this November. In addition to being a world-class musician, singer-songwriter, and philanthropist, the 77-year old country music star is married to a former military man and has proudly supported the U.S. military over her decades-long career.
WeSalute Awards
CelebVet: Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett, the timeless crooner and Army veteran, passed away on July 21 just a few weeks shy of his 97th birthday. His illustrious career won him 20 Grammy Awards and a recent resurgence in popularity through his musical collaboration with pop sensation Lady Gaga. He broke the Guiness World Record for oldest person to release an album of new material at age 95. Like many of his generation, Bennett served in the military during World War II.
WeSalute Awards
TopVet: Producers of the Movie "Jaws"
Jaws burst onto the silver screen in June of 1975 and become a historical icon for many reasons. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie became the prototype for the summer blockbuster.
WeSalute Awards
TopVet: Brian Armstrong
Marine Corps veteran Brian Armstrong is a transitioning veteran success story. From military recruiter to Lead Business Execution Consultant Program Manager for Wells Fargo, he has made the jump from service to success in the corporate world.
WeSalute Awards
TopVet: Chris Perkins, Veterans on Wall Street
When Lehman Brothers collapsed at the start of the 2008 financial crisis, Marine VETERAN Captain Chris Perkins was on the ground floor unphased. “People were screaming and crying. I had just come back from combat - I had seen worse.”
WeSalute Awards
TopVet: Dusty Baker
The Houston Astros have high hopes for capturing their second consecutive baseball championship. To get there, Astros fans have once again put their faith in baseball and military veteran, Dusty Baker, who proudly served as a U.S. Marine.
WeSalute Awards
HeroVet: Benjamin Ferencz
Benjamin Berell Ferencz, the son of Hungarian immigrants, fought with the U.S. Army in World War II in Europe, witnessed the liberation of German concentration camps, and served as a lead prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials. For over 70 years, he has condemned atrocities against people of race or creed, and committed himself to settling disputes without the use of force.
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CelebVet: Zach Bryan
A Navy Vet made former President Obama’s list of favorite music of 2022, next to names like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar.
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VetFamily: Gary Sinise Plays Winning Role in Veterans Advocacy
Gary Sinise's most famous military role may have been Lieutenant Dan Taylor in "Forrest Gump," but these days he's playing a leading role in veterans' advocacy off screen.
WeSalute Awards
TopRank: Lt. Amanda Lee of the Blue Angels
The Blue Angels, the famed U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron that has delighted millions with its thrilling air shows, added its first female pilot last week. Navy Lt. Amanda Lee was tapped as the first female F/A-18E/F demo pilot. She and five other officers are the newest members of the 2023 Show Season for the Blue Angels.
WeSalute Awards
CelebVet: Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett, the timeless crooner whose career won him 20 Grammy Awards, will celebrate his 96th birthday next month. He’s currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity through his musical collaboration with Lady Gaga. And like many of his generation, Bennett served in the military during World War II.
WeSalute Awards
VetFamily: Jessica Alba
Actress Jessica Alba hails from a military family - both her father and grandfather served our country. Among her other accomplishments on and off the screen, the movie star, philanthropist, and entrepreneur became one of six newly announced members of the board of directors at Yahoo this month.
WeSalute Awards
HeroVet: Justin Constantine
Editor’s Note: Marine Lt. Colonel, attorney and Veterans Advantage HeroVet Justine Constantine died on May 6, after a bout with cancer. Justin was severely wounded and narrowly escaped death from a sniper’s bullet to the head in Iraq in 2006. He endured countless surgeries, and with the support of his spouse, Dahlia, recovered and became a nationally recognized author and tireless advocate for Veterans. His HeroVet profile of 2016 is republished below. It is a story of great determination and resilience that serves as inspiration for all of us. He will be greatly missed.
WeSalute Awards
HeroVet: Pat Tillman (in memoriam)
Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman shattered the illusion of the football player as a "warrior" and made it a reality when he announced his intention to join the United States Army 20 years ago, in May of 2002, putting his NFL career on hold.