Blinded Vets Foundation Hosts Congressional Awards Ceremony and Picnic

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Blinded American Veterans Foundation (BAVF) hosts its 32nd annual Congressional Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, which follows its annual Flag Day Picnic on June 11. The Congressional Awards Ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. in Room 2044 of the Rayburn House Office Building, while the picnic will be held in Silver Spring, MD. Both events are part of the Foundation's Flag Day observances honoring Members of Congress, the media, and volunteers.

"This is a special time of year for the Foundation," said BAVF President John Fales of Silver Spring, MD, "for it centers on the day our country pays tribute to the American flag.  It also gives us the opportunity to honor those in Congress and 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 thank some of the many, many volunteers who have helped the Foundation since its beginning."

At awards ceremonies on June 13, U.S. Representatives Seth Moulton (D-Massachusetts) and Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) will receive the Foundation's George "Buck" Gillispie Award for

Meritorious Service. The BAVF's Carlton Sherwood Media Award will be presented to author and motivational speaker Michael Jernigan and Chris Plante, host of the Chris Plante Show on WMAL Radio 105.9 in Washington, D.C. The Foundation's George W. Alexander Memorial Volunteer Award will be presented to Gale Watson, National Program Director, Veterans Health Administration, and Hal Koster, Founder and Executive Director of the Allethia Foundation. The Corporate Award will be presented to Anthony C. Morella, J.D.

The Foundation's annual patriotic picnic attracts political figures, area civic leaders, veterans' services organization representatives, and the BAVF "family" of disabled and visually impaired veterans. Flags that were flown over the U.S. Capitol will be presented to many guests. As always, the picnic's famous hot dogs will be prepared and served by the gregarious Chef Lakis, a long-time Washington, D.C. fixture who has since retired from his cart at the northeast corner of 18^th and K Streets, N.W.  Guest of honor at the picnic is scientist Paul Bruney, who helped develop the Ballistic Impact Detection System (BIDS) for the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and was instrumental in including quantum physics in research at NIH.

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 a compilation of related statistics. It also conducts research, educational, and charitable programs. This valuable service is performed strictly with volunteers and without a paid staff.

SOURCE Blinded American Veterans Foundation

Related Links

http://www.bavf.org