Fiftieth Anniversary convention for MOH Society

Sorry for being AWOL for a week while attending the annual Medal of Honor Society Convention in the Mile High City.

I had the best intentions, but as usual found myself too busy and distracted to post.

My friend Nick Del Calzo, one of the most gifted portrait photographers in the country, co-chaired the event and brought it off in great style; first class all the way from entertainment to the banquet filet mignon.

His book, The Medal of Honor, is a must have for any real American.

Highlights included the Carrie Underwood/Randy Travis concert at the Pepsi Center. They were generous with their time, meeting and posing for photographs with the Recipients and their families during the pre-performance reception.

The diminutive Underwood packs full-blown vocal power and seemed at ease with the nation's greatest heroes as well as my girlfriend Cindy Brooks... a big fan of Underwood's since her American Idol days.   

Travis is shown below right with my friend Cliff Yow.

Also, Clint Eastwood, Bob Dole, and Ben Stein who were honored by the Society with annual awards were available to the gathering, remaining in the receiving line for more than an hour.

Wayne Newton served as MC for the evening and was especially appreciated by the crowd for entertaining U.S. troops around the world for more than 50 years. He first performed at a USO show at age 8 and succeeded the legendary Bob Hope on the USO tours.

For his service to his country and his leadership in the arts, Newton has been awarded, among other honors, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Citizenship Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the American Legend Award, the Achievement Award from First Americans in the Arts, the VFW Hall of Fame Award and The American Legion National Commander's Public Relations Award. He also was made an honorary Green Beret at a Fort Bragg ceremony in 1999.

Fifty-seven of the 100 living Recipients attended the 50th Society convention which featured the world premier of Medal of Honor a 90-minute, PBS documentary which airs nationally November 5. 

The Society's oldest Recipient, 99-year-old John Finn, was released from a Denver hospital yesterday following three days' treatment for pneumonia. Vietnam War Recipient Bob Ingram, also received treatment for pneumonia and was released Saturday.

Left, Cindy with Recipients John Baca and John McGinty.

Comments

[GA]

Will-

Damn... you got me.

Cindy is indeed a "cyber-girlfriend" who exists through a combination of my imagination and a photo that comes with the picture frames at WalMart.

I even made her a nurse if you get my drift.
Brandi-- more pix to come.

[Will S]

Normally, Gary, I, of course, take everything you say as pure, unadulterated truth - because I know that a fellow former marine would never lie. But I realy have to wonder if you aren't trying to pull a fast one when you photoshop a model into your photos and try to pass her off as your own girlfriend.

What's next? Will you be tell us that the smartest kids go to UVA and lean toward Obama!?

Semper Fi (and congratulations - seriously)

[Brandi]

Wow - looks like you all had a GREAT time - talked to mom but she was tired after the trip - I'm sure I can get more out of her when I talk to her next. Thank you and send more pictures.