Devin Nunes: Keeper of the Flame

Press Release    

17 September 2018

Contact: Deborah Hamilton

DEVIN NUNES: KEEPER OF THE FLAME

(Washington, D.C.): On 13 September, the Center for Security Policy recognized the distinguished public service of Rep. Devin Nunes, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, with its 2018 “Keeper of the Flame Award.”  The Congressman used the occasion to deliver a forceful call for accountability in the face of evident malfeasance on the part of key CIA, FBI and Department of Justice officials and for vigilance and preparedness to contend with the “real threat” from Communist China.

The Center has conferred the Keeper of the Flame Award each year since 1990 on a remarkable civilian or military leader whose efforts have contributed materially to America’s security and to the cause of freedom around the world.  The dinner is both an opportunity to celebrate great leaders and to afford them a platform from which to inform, inspire and engage others whom we need to have follow in their footsteps.

Congressman Nunes has joined a distinguished company of honorees including: President Ronald Reagan, Vice President Richard Cheney, Secretaries of Defense Caspar Weinberger, James Schlesinger and Donald Rumsfeld, Generals Peter Pace, Richard Myers, James Jones and Jim Conway, Senators Jon Kyl, Joseph Lieberman, Jim Inhofe, Jeff Sessions and Ted Cruz, and Congressmen Floyd Spence, Duncan Hunter, Sr., Buck McKeon and Peter King.

The importance of Rep. Nunes’ service to our country at “such a time as this” was applauded in a moving introductory testimonial by his colleague and fellow congressional leader, Rep. Jim Jordan.

Thursday’s black-tie dinner also featured two other salutes.  The Center gave its “Terry Elkes Sacred Honor Award,” which recognizes its recipients’ public-spirited leadership in the private sector and philanthropy, to the legendary American oilman and entrepreneur, T. Boone Pickens. Elizabeth Pickens Cordia accepted this honor on her father’s behalf.

As a founding member of the Save the Persecuted Christians Coalition, the Center was privileged to use the occasion to recognize with the Coalition’s first “SaveUs Award” the exemplary leadership of the government of Hungary in helping those being brutally oppressed simply because they follow Jesus Christ.  Hungary’s State Secretary for Aid to Persecuted Christians, Tristan Azbej, was introduced by Greg Mitchell, Esq. the co-chairman of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable. Secretary Azbej accepted the award and spoke movingly about the plight of some 215 million Christians experiencing heavy persecution around the world – and the imperative of persuading more nations to follow his country’s lead in coming to their rescue.

Videos of this extraordinary event are available at www.SecureFreedom.org.  The Center is deeply grateful to those whose generosity made possible this unforgettable evening of well-deserved tributes.