AMVETS HONORS MINNESOTA CONGRESSMAN TIM WALZ

Cmdr. Miskulin to present Congressman Walz with Silver Helmet Award for his continued support to troops and veterans

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2010—AMVETS will present its prestigious Congressional Silver Helmet Award to Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz during a special reception on Capitol Hill at 5:30 p.m. in the House Veterans Affairs Committee chambers of the Cannon House Office Building. AMVETS honored Walz, a retired command sergeant major from the Minnesota Army National Guard, for his work as both a soldier and a legislator.

“In only two short terms, Walz has become a critical voice for the men and women who bare the brunt of our nation’s battles. As a sergeant major, Walz was dedicated to caring for his troops and he has carried that dedication into his work in Washington,” said AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin. “Congressman Walz has demonstrated a sustained commitment to our nation’s troops and our veterans with more than two decades of continuous service as a soldier and a statesman, and it is an honor to recognize his ongoing contributions.”

Since taking his seat in Congress in 2006, Walz has introduced, supported and testified on multiple bills designed to better serve today’s veterans—including issues many in Congress failed to address, such as pain mitigation and equity in travel reimbursement. Walz has also pushed for increased funding for veterans’ optical care and traumatic brain injury care, advocating for “centers of excellence” to better identify and treat such conditions.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award,” said Walz. “I am also truly honored to work with AMVETS. Their dedication to the men and women who have served our country is unwavering and I look forward to continuing to fight alongside them to ensure that our veterans and troops have the best care possible.”

The Congressional Silver Helmet Award is presented by AMVETS each year to a member of Congress for exemplary service to members of the military and the veterans’ community. The Congressional Silver Helmet Award reception coincides with the testimony of the AMVETS National Commander before a special joint session of the Congressional Veterans’ Affairs committees.

Commonly referred to as “The Veterans’ Oscar,” the Silver Helmet is a unique silver replica of a WWII GI’s helmet. The first Silver Helmet was first presented to Gen. George C. Marshall in 1954 at the AMVETS 10th Anniversary Dinner in recognition of his contributions as a soldier, statesman, and American. Today, the award recognizes excellence and outstanding accomplishment in the fields of Americanism, defense, rehabilitation, congressional service and civil service.

On Saturday, March 20, AMVETS will honor four additional Silver Helmet Award winners during the annual Silver Helmet Awards Banquet at the Hilton Washington Dulles in Herndon, Va. Hosted in conjunction with the spring meeting of the AMVETS National Executive Committee, this year’s banquet marks the 56th anniversary of the Silver Helmet Awards.

In addition to AMVETS members, the audience for the Silver Helmet Awards includes cabinet members‚ members of Congress, military officials, service members, and wounded warriors who come to pay tribute to each year’s recipients.

Highlights from this year’s Congressional reception and the Silver Helmet Awards Banquet will be available on the official blog of American Veteran magazine, http://americanveteranmagazine.blogspot.com.

About AMVETS:
A leader since 1944 in preserving the freedoms secured by America’s armed forces, AMVETS provides support for veterans and the active military in procuring their earned entitlements, as well as community service and legislative reform that enhances the quality of life for this nation’s citizens and veterans alike. AMVETS is one of the largest congressionally-chartered veterans’ service organizations in the United States, and includes members from each branch of the military, including the National Guard and Reserves. To learn more visit www.amvets.org.