The following was provided by The American Legion.
The chairmen of the House and Senate committees on veterans’ affairs, Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will attend The American Legion’s Inaugural Banquet & Salute to Heroes Ball on Jan. 21 in Washington.
Former Virginia senator Jim Webb will also attend the event, which pays tribute to America’s 81 living Medal of Honor recipients. Webb is a Vietnam War veteran who received the Navy Cross and several other medals for his combat actions.
Speakers at the banquet include American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz and Tom Brokaw, Emmy Award-winning news anchor and author. More than 25 Medal of Honor recipients are scheduled to attend the event.
The Armed Forces Color Guard of the U.S. Military District of Washington will present colors at the banquet, and the Army Brass Quintet will play the national anthem. A nine-minute video, “Medal of Honor – In Their Own Words” will also be shown; it features several recipients of America’s highest military honor discussing what the medal means to them.
The “Free Spirit Band” will perform at the ball, which Washingtonian Magazine has called “the most sought-after band in town.” The 11-piece variety band features four vocalists and a three-piece horn section, and plays a wide variety of music – from big-band to current top-40.
Tickets for the combined banquet and ball are available and are priced at $250 apiece; ball-only tickets are $125. The event will be at the Renaissance Washington D.C. Downtown Hotel, 999 Ninth St. NW. The event begins with a 5 p.m. reception, followed by the banquet at 6:30 p.m. The ball will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
To purchase tickets, contact Wanda Tallakson at (202) 861-2700 or wtallakson@legion.org. The deadline to purchase tickets is Jan. 17.
