WASHINGTON – A legacy of service to military personnel and veterans was honored today when country music star Toby Keith received the highest award offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during a ceremony at the Nashville Convention Center.
“Toby has demonstrated time and again his patriotism and willingness to engage America’s men and women in uniform and our Nation’s veterans,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “This award, the highest honor my office can bestow on a private citizen, represents VA’s thanks to a country music legend who has lifted the spirits of America’s fighting men and women, and comforted our citizen-soldiers who have been wounded on the field of battle.”
The award was presented to Keith for his support of veterans and veterans’ issues. Keith has completed several USO tours, visiting troops around the world from Guantanamo Bay, Germany, Belgium, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Italy, Kuwait and other sites in the Persian Gulf, as well as visiting wounded servicemen and women at Laundstuhl Army Medical Center in Germany and military hospitals in the United States.
While not a veteran himself, he is the son a of a disabled Vietnam veteran. His song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” following the attacks of 9/11, rallied Americans from all walks of life behind the Global War Against Terrorism.
Past recipients of the Secretary’s Award include actress Bo Derek, singer Wayne Newton and NASCAR driver Richard Petty.
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