Joint Chiefs Chairman General Martin Dempsey and Former NFL Center Jason Brown to Headline Military Child of the Year® Gala

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will speak at the Military Child of the Year® Award Gala on April 16, Operation Homefront announced today. The event recognizes the top military child from each branch of service – Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard – and for the first time in 2015, the National Guard.

Jason Brown, a former star in the National Football League turned farmer, will deliver the keynote address, entitled "A Life of Service," at the Washington, D.C. gala. Brown walked away from a successful football career in 2012 to farm in North Carolina, donating his crops to food pantries and churches throughout the Triangle area. In his work through Wisdom for Life Ministries and First Fruit Farms, Jason and his wife Tay, are demonstrating how to live a life of purpose. 

Mike Emanuel, chief congressional correspondent for Fox News Channel, will emcee the dinner and award portion of the evening event. During his tenure at Fox News, Emanuel has provided live coverage of several national and international stories, including the 2005 Iraqi elections, the execution of former dictator Saddam Hussein, and several tours of Afghanistan.

"We're honored to have these outstanding Americans on hand to salute six amazing military kids," said Tim Farrell, Chief Operating Officer for Operation Homefront.  "The Military Child of the Year® Award honors the resiliency and service to country of our youngest heroes, and our speakers are excited to be a part of this celebration of our military families, who sacrifice so much in service to our country."

2015 is the seventh year that Operation Homefront has presented the Military Child of the Year® Award. The six awardees will receive $10,000 each and will be flown with a parent or guardian to our nation's capital for the special recognition ceremony. The awards will be presented by senior leaders of each branch of service. 

You can learn more about the six award recipients at MilitaryChildoftheYear.org.  

About Operation Homefront:  A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 2,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has provided assistance to thousands of military families since its inception in 2002. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity watchdog groups, nationally, 92 percent of Operation Homefront's expenditures go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.

SOURCE Operation Homefront

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