2009 Dallas Patriot Award Dinner and Medal of Honor Golf Classic

On October 10, 2009, more than 35 of the living Medal of Honor recipients along with nearly 400 guests gathered in Dallas, Texas for the fifth consecutive year to honor three outstanding Americans who have contributed profoundly to our American way of life.  

Shown below, Mr. Steve Amerson received the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment. The award was presented to Mr. Amerson by Society president, Leo Throsness and recipient Mike Thornton for promoting the true meaning of service before self, freedom and the Medal of Honor through his music and great voice. 

Also depicted below, the John Reagan “Tex” McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism was presented by Leo Thorsness and Mike Thornton to Mr. Bill O’Reilly for his objective reporting on the military and support of our troops in harm’s way and their families.

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Tenor Steve Amerson Receives Bob Hope Award in 2009	Bill O'Reilly Receives Tex McCrary Award in 2009

As seen in the image below, the Society’s prestigious Patriot Award was presented by Society President, Leo Thorsness, to The Honorable Sam Johnson, United States Congress Representative from Texas for a lifetime of outstanding srevice to his country. Representative Johnson was a prisoner of war with Leo Thorsness during the Vietnam War and both noted the theme of the evening that Freedom is Not Free.

The day before the gala black-tie dinner, the recipients had fanned out to several schools in the Dallas area to talk to students. That evening they presented Mr. Ross Perot, shown below, with a shadow box of more than 100 personal coins of Medal of Honor recipients.

Representative Sam Johnson Receives Patriot Award in 2009	Ross Perot Receives Medal of Honor Coin Set in 2009

On Monday, October 12, the recipients were paired with professional and amateur golfers for the annual Medal of Honor Golf Classic at TPC Craig Ranch.

See the Events page for information on the 2010 Patriot Award Dinner.