2011 Chicago In the Company of Heroes Gala

Over 30 Medal of Honor recipients gathered in Chicago, Illinois  from July 22-24 for a series of Medal of Honor outreach activities.

Activities started with a dinner cruise on the Blue Moon, visits to local schools and a Medal of Honor: In the Company of Heroes gala on Friday evening at the San Filippo Estate attended by over 250 guests.  The events culminated with a Military Appreciation Day held at Arlington Race Track. 

Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Duchoissois and many supporters in the Chicago community, the series of events was grand in all respects. (Complimentary Photos of the San Filippo Estate Gala provided by Milkovich Photography & Marketing.)

Click images to enlarge

Circle of Honor Dinner and Gala at Sanfilippo Estate	Presentation of Colors by U.S. Color Guard - Ft. Sheridan, IL	America's tenor, Steve Amerson Entertains Guests at the Gala

 

Tom Morrissey receives the Courageous Spirit Award from MOH recipient Hal Fritz

 At the gala, Society Vice President Harold Fritz presented the Courageous Spirit Award to Retired Army Sergeant Major, Thomas M. Morrissey. Tom Morrissey served more than 30 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces, the last 14 years in the National Guard. During his third combat tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2006, then Sergeant First Class Morrissey received multiple gunshot wounds at close range in an ambush. He endured three years of surgery and rehabilitation. Despite his own wounds he has spent much of his time mentoring and working with other combat wounded soldiers.

MOH Recipient Leo Thorsness Presents the Circle of Honor Award to Jim Lovell

The Circle of Honor Award is presented to those individuals who have made profound contributions to our nation and its way of life, and whose character is courage, selflessness, and patriotism. Society President, Leo Thorsness proudly presented this award to James A. Lovell, Jr.(USN Ret.) – a distinguished eagle scout, navy test pilot, astronaut (Commander of the Apollo XIII Mission) who holds numerous space flight records, and businessman – for a lifetime of distinguished service and profound contributions to all mankind.

MOH Recipient Roger Donlon Addresses the Boys and Girls Club	MOH Recipient Sal Giunta at the Boys and Girls Club	Students at the Boys and Girls Club display their projects with MOH recipients Sal Giunta and Roger Donlon

MOH Recipients Mike Thornton and Rudy Hernandez visit with students at Barrington High School

As part of their outreach activities, earlier in the day, over 20 Medal of Honor recipients visited local schools, the Boys and Girls Club and 2 area VA hospitals in the Chicago area.  After the Q & A with the students at Barrington High School, MOH recipient, Mike Thornton sat down for a brief interview in the students’ “studio” . Click here to view the video produced by the students at Barrington High School to be aired throughout the school on their network.

Jon Scott from Fox News was the master of ceremonies for the gala and here is how he described the experience on Fox News. Click here to view the Jon Scott video.