Army National Military Cemeteries Executive Director Patrick K. Hallinan received the 2015 Commander-in-Chief Gold Medal at the 116th VFW National Convention held July 18-22 in Pittsburgh.
"This has not been a career for me, it's been a calling. I've been passionate about the mission. I've had a job for 40 years where I get to say thanks on behalf of the American people to the people who've served this nation," said Hallinan.
"It never fails to move me, it never fails to remind me of what a great nation this is and who the true heroes are," he said, speaking about families he's served including those with loved ones killed in action from recent wars.
The video of the Commander-in-Chief Gold Medal is here.
In addition, the VFW gave the 2015 Citizenship Award to the Arlington Ladies for their service to active duty service members, veterans and their families. The Arlington Ladies are a group of volunteers who attend burial services at Arlington as official representatives of their respective military service's leadership. Their motto is that no Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Coast Guardsman is ever buried alone. Margaret Mensch of the Army, Paula McKinley of the Navy, Jean Anderegg of the Air Force, and Maggie Paar of the Coast Guard, accepted the award during the conference.
The video of the Citizen Award is here.
According to the VFW, approximately 10,000 members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries attended the convention, voting on organizational by-laws, attending workshops, and networking with other veterans.