NMHS: A CAUSE IN MOTION A Stellar Celebration at the National Maritime Awards Dinner, Washington, DC The Mayflower Hotel proved to be the ideal venue for our National Maritime Awards Dinner in April because it is such a historic location, not to mention that the Mayflower is such an iconic ship in American history. We were delighted with how elegant it was, and how welcome we felt. We plan to return in April 2018, and hope you will join us. Our awards dinner founding chairs, Irmy and Philip Webster, were on hand to receive our guests and greet our many VIPs. Our 2017 dinner chairs set the tone for the evening: CAPT Jim Noone, USN (Ret.), opened the program with a heart-felt welcome, and Dr. Timothy Runyan impressed upon the group how critically important it is to get federal support for historic ship preservation and education. He congratulated those in the room who were at the forefront of the recent successful effort to reinstate maritime heritage funding, and the representatives of the many maritime organizations in attendance, who were there to show that there is a true force to the maritime heritage movement. We were delighted to present the NMHS Distinguished Service Award to Conservation International, and its chairman and founder Peter A. Seligmann. Conservation International is a global non-profit focusing on innovative solutions and developing partnerships with governments, communities and businesses to ensure sustainability of natural resources. Since its founding thirty years ago, the organization has had a major positive impact on the health of the world 's oceans and shorelines. We were honored to have Thomas L. Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist, present the award: "How many founders do you know," he asked, "who have had a profound effect on life, can get stuff done-really big stuff-and helped to preserve the face of the earth? "
Peter Seligmann (left) is introduced by 1homas Friedman. The NMHS Distinguished Service Award was also presented to the National Geographic Society for its extraordinary achievements in chronicling mankind's relationship with the water and educating millions of readers and viewers about our global maritime heritage. Gary Knell, president and CEO of the National Geographic Society, accepted the award from world-renowned underwater explorer and oceanographer, Bob Ballard. A former recipient of our award, Dr. Ballard stated that when you think of America, you think of apple pie and baseball and the US Navy-but certainly right up there is the National Geographic Society. Their work is more important now than ever. Gary Jobson, Gary Knell, and Bob Ballard The Naval Historical Foundation, co-sponsor of the event, presented its Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Jack Philip London, executive chairman and former CEO of CACI International. Dr. London served twelve years as a naval officer during the Cold War, as an aviator from 1959 to 1971, and in the US Naval Reserve until 1983. He has generously supported naval heritage projects and has served on many boards, including the Naval Historical Foundation, the United States Naval Institute, and the Navy Memorial Foundation. The NHF Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dr. London by Admiral William J. Fallon, USN (Ret.), chairman of the Naval Historical Foundation. In accepting the award Dr. London talked about his experience serving in the US Navy. The Navy, he explained, was his past and his future; it changed his life, his direction, and his world view. In his time since leaving the service, he has supported naval heritage work because he feels strongly that Americans need to know their history. He concluded his remarks reiterating the Navy's core values: honor, courage, and commitment.
Admiral William Fallon, USN (Ret.) presents the award to Dr. Jack Philip London (at right). Gary Jobson, president of the National Sailing Hall of Fame, vice president of the International Sailing Federation, past president of US Sailing, and NMHS overseer, served as our spirited master of ceremonies. Our own Richardo Lopes, NMHS vice chairman and award-winning producer and director of XXL Media, produced the fabu lous videos that introduced each honoree. Introduced by Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant of the US Coast Guard, the USCG Academy Cadet Singers, directed by Dr. Robert Newton, concluded the program to a welldeserved standing ovation.
We give special thanks to the members of the outstanding dinner committee, who work hard to recognize those whose remarkable achievements inspire the maritime heritage community at large. We were able to corral a Jew of them for this group photo, with dinner co-chairs Jim Noone (back row, 2nd from left), Tim Runyan (standing, Jar right), and founding chair Philip Webster (back row, 3rd from right).
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