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Foundation Receives Special Presidential and Congressional Commendation


The Foundation's "United in Spirit - American Tribute 10" is an historic virtual event celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Gene Vance Jr. Day, U.S. Armed Forces Day and commemorating the 20th Anniversary year of the September 11 attacks.


Broadcast to thousands of viewers, it also honored the memory of COVID-19 pandemic victims and encouraged COVID-19 vaccination in the United States in support of ongoing mass immunization efforts.


Spearheaded by Foundation founder and creator of the day, Michael M.J. Minc, it received the enclosed letter of commendation from the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden who is also commander-in-chief of the US Armed Forces.


The 10th Gene Vance Jr. Day brought together prominent U.S. government and military leaders with commendation messages from Senators Joseph Manchin III, Shelley Moore Capito and West Virginia Governor Jim Justice.


General Austin S. Miller, former commander of U.S. Army and NATO forces in Afghanistan, State Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, Brigadier General William Crane, Colonel Gary M Hausman, former Commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and Command Sergeant Major Dennis Riggs of Vance’s unit the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) also participated.


Musical performers nationwide like Dr.Letícia Grützmann leading the Carroll University Choirs in Waukesha, Wisconsin, David Winans II of the Winans family leading his band PI in Detroit, Michigan as well as California based actor, composer, singer, songwriter Abri van Straten husband of Kristin Bauer van Straten and Oregon based blues artist Ben Rice. Musical performers from West Virginia included Chief Warrant Officer Jeremiah Bennett leading the 249th United States Army Band, Chris and Donnie Davisson of the Davisson Brothers Band, American Idol contestant and country musician Cody Clayton Eagle and singer songwriters Eric Lewis and Rick Martin who debuted their musical response to the Pandemic during the broadcast. WATCH NOW


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