2010 Washington D.C. Awards Dinner

Washington's Birthday at Malta in USS Constitution, 1837 - Edward Savage
Join us on Thursday, 22 April 2010 when the maritime community will gather at The Army and Navy Club on Farragut Square in Washington, DC, one block from The White House, to honor these maritime luminaries at our second Annual Washington Awards Dinner.
Retired U.S. Senator John W. Warner will receive the National Maritime Historical Society's Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his illustrious career as sailor, marine, Chair of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, Under-Secretary and Secretary of the Navy, United States Senator, and Chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee. Representing "the epitome of what we love to see from a man who loves the sea," the Society is honoring Senator Warner for an incredible career that includes being a sailor in World War II, a marine in the Korean War; and a long-time U.S. Senator well-respected on both sides of the aisle. Senator Warner served five terms in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 2008 and rose to be Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. While serving as Under-Secretary of the Navy, 1969-1972, and Secretary of the Navy, 1972-1974, he represented the Department of Defense in the Laws of the Seas talks in Geneva during 1971-1973, and negotiated the Incidents at Sea Executive Agreement with the Soviet Union between 1970-1972. During the final year of World War II, Warner enlisted in the U.S. Navy, was trained in electronics, and honorably discharged as a Petty Officer 3rd Class. Subsequently, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, and in October 1950, at the outbreak of the Korean War, he reported for active duty and served as a first lieutenant, ground officer, with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Korea. He remained in the Reserves for eight years and then honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. Throughout his long Senate career, he often, in floor speeches, acknowledged how much he benefitted from his modest service in uniform and how he worked as a member of Congress to "pay back" this debt of gratitude by improving benefits for the current generations in uniform and their families. During his last year, he was a part of the "team of Senators" who wrote the new- expanded-G.I. Bill. The Honorable John F. Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy and NMHS Overseer, will present the NMHS Distinguished Service Award to Senator Warner at the Washington Awards Dinner at the Army and Navy Club on Farragut Square, 901 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC on Thursday, 22 April 2010.
Admiral Gary Roughead, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy, will be honored with the NMHS Distinguished Service Award for establishing naval history as part of the core curriculum for Navy seamen. The Society salutes Admiral Roughead for stressing naval history as a Navy-wide discipline, making it a fundamental part of the advancement examinations for senior enlisted personnel. Admiral Gary Roughead as Chief of Naval Operations is responsible for the world's largest combined fleet command, encompassing 102 million square miles and more than 190 ships and submarines, 1,400 aircraft, 191,000 Sailors and Marines and 30,000 civilians. Adm. Roughead is a 1973 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and service awards. Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp, Commander US Coast Guard Atlantic Area and Coast Guard Defense Force East, will present the award.
James W. Cheevers, Associate Director and Senior Curator of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, will be honored with the NMHS Robert G. Albion/James Monroe Award for maritime historiography for his long and distinguished career at the Naval Academy Museum caring for and building this national resource during his 40-year tenure as curator of the collections. Cheevers' stewardship over the collections has made available valuable educational resources for a generation of maritime scholars and countless midshipmen. The Society recognizes his years of service to the Historic Naval Ships Association, his guardianship of the tomb of Commodore John Paul Jones, and his leadership in oversight of the multi-million dollar restoration of the facility.  Vice Admiral Robert F. Dunn, USN (Ret.), President of the Naval Historical Foundation, will present the award.
The Washington Awards Dinner will feature distinguished sailor and yachting commentator, and past NMHS award recipient, Gary Jobson as Master of Ceremonies. The United States Coast Guard Academy Cadet Singers from New London, CT will perform under the direction of Dr. Robert Newton.  Proceeds of the Dinner support the work of the National Maritime Historical Society.
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National Maritime Historical Society gratefully acknowledges its Washington Awards Dinner Sponsors
The gala event will begin at 6 p.m. with a Cocktail Reception featuring a Silent Auction with an exceptional selection of nautical items, cruises, and vacation getaways. A Marine Art Exhibit will also be on display along the Parade of The Army and Navy Club, offering works by renowned Chesapeake artists John Barber, William Storck and Marc Castelli. Dinner in the Dining Room will begin at 7 p.m. There will be a color guard representing the Sea Services, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Cadet "Idlers" who will travel from New London, CT, to perform under the direction of Dr. Robert Newton. Proceeds from the event support the work of the National Maritime Historical Society. To preview the Silent Auction, please CLICK HERE To preview the Marine Art Exhibit, please CLICK HERE RESERVATIONS Reservations for the Dinner are $250 per person. Seating is limited. Dress is business attire. Call NMHS at 914-737-7878, ext 0 to make your reservation, or email nmhs@seahistory.org for more information.
SPONSORSHIP Various levels of sponsorship are also available: Corporate Dinner Sponsor at $10,000, Reception Sponsor at $8,000, Table Sponsors at $5,000, Dinner Journal Sponsor at $5,000 and a Journal Advertiser at $1,000. Please contact Burchenal Green at 914-737-7878, ext. 223, if you are interested in being a Sponsor of NMHS's Washington Awards Dinner. *Click here for a full menu of Sponsorship Opportunities
DINNER JOURNAL AD SPACE Dinner Journal Ad space to congratulate the awardees and support the work of NMHS are available in full and half pages, available for $1,000 and $600, respectively.  Please contact Wendy Paggiotta at 914-737-7878, ext. 235, or email her at advertising@seahistory.org, if you are interested in advertising in the Washington Awards Dinner Journal.
IMAGE: Washington's Birthday at Malta in USS Constitution, Commodore Jesse D. Elliott, 1837 Edward Savage (1761-1817), Oil on Canvas Courtesy U.S. Naval Academy Museum
About NMHS: As the national voice for America's maritime heritage, NMHS has led the charge since 1963 to educate and inspire successive generations of Americans about our seafaring heritage and of the role the sea has played in the development of our nation.  The National Maritime Historical Society is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit membership organization, with 15,000 members around the country, dedicated to preserving and promoting America's maritime traditions. The Society's quarterly magazine, Sea History, considered the pre-eminent journal in the field, brings to life our seafaring history, from the ancient mariners of Greece and Rome to the heroic efforts of the seamen of WWII.  It supports modern efforts to keep alive our maritime heritage and traditions, from ship restoration projects, to maritime museum programs, to tall ship events. The Society's work covers a broad spectrum of activities from sea training for students to stepping in when an historic ship is endangered.