It is with the deepest of regret that the Center for Security Policy announces that the recipient of the 2013 Keeper of the Flame Award, Representative Bill Young of Florida, has passed away. We join the constituents he served with the greatest of distinction for fifty years and a grateful nation in expressing our heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and staff for this terrible loss.
The Young family has graciously allowed us to transform the party we had planned, to celebrate in life this outstanding American patriot, veteran and legislator, into a tribute honoring him posthumously. We are extremely pleased that several of those closest to him will be with us for that purpose on the evening of Wednesday, 23 October at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill: Major General Randy West, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), who will provide an invocation; former Marine Corps Commandant and National Security Advisor to the President General James Jones, who will make remarks about Rep. Young; and Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, the Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, who will accept the award on behalf of the Young family.
In addition, we will recognize the service of another extraordinary leader who worked for many years with Chairman Young on behalf of our men and women in uniform and the national security of the United States: General Alfred Gray, the 29th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. Gen. Gray will receive the Center’s Freedom’s Shield Award for his myriad achievements during and after his storied military career, including his decades of work on behalf of wounded warriors, defense transformation and higher education. We are honored to have the Corps’ incumbent Commandant, Gen. James Amos, to introduce his predecessor and present the Award.
Virginia Congressman Randy Forbes will present the Benediction at the end of the evening.
Sincerely,
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., President and CEO
The Board of Directors of the Center for Security Policy cordially invites you to the
2013 Keeper of the Flame
to join us in a tribute to
Congressman C.W. Bill Young
13th District of Florida | Chairman, Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
The Keeper of the Flame Award was inaugurated in 1990 by the Center for Security Policy to bestow recognition on those individuals who devote their public careers to the propagation of democracy and the respect for individual rights throughout the world. The Award both acknowledges the past contributions of its recipients and reminds others who share their commitment to freedom of the work yet to be done.
2013 Freedom’s Shield Award
presented to
Gen. Alfred M. Gray, Jr.
29th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General Alfred M. Gray, Jr.
In 2012, the Center for Security Policy instituted another distinction – the Freedom’s Shield Award – to recognize military leaders for extraordinary service to the security of our country and its people, both in uniform and in civilian life. In 2012, the legendary special operator Major General John K. “Jack” Singlaub, U.S. Army (Ret.) became the first recipient of this honor.
It is our privilege in 2013 to present the Freedom’s Shield Award to the 29th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General Alfred M. Gray, Jr. Gen. Gray is one of the most revered of all living Marines for his record in combat, for his visionary leadership in the equipping, training and management of the Corps and for his continuing, post-retirement efforts on its behalf and that of the Free World.
Gen. Gray will be introduced on this occasion by his successor and the incumbent Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos.
Congressman J. Randy Forbes, U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 4th District and Chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, will be presenting the benediction
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Hyatt Regency, Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
6PM Reception | 7PM Dinner and Program
For more information, contact Tracey Johnson [email protected] or at (571) 228-2949
For the first time, this year’s Keeper of the Flame dinner will be preceded by a morning Symposium on Law, Policy and Innovative Technologies in National Security.