Veterans Day Luncheon Award Winners
ETMAC’s major award at the Veteran’s Day Luncheon has previously been called the Civilian Warrior award. In 2013, the Veteran community in East Tennessee lost one of its staunchest supporters – a man who did not really get involved until he was 80 or so, but a man who would sell watches to raise funds for Honor Air, or participate in a kissing booth, or simply fill his calendar by attending every imaginable Veteran-related activity. He did all of this for the last 15 years of his life. His name was Sam Hardman, and the Board of ETMAC voted to rename our most significant honor – The Sam Hardman Warrior Award – in his memory.
Civilian Warrior Award (begun in 2009; name changed in 2013)
2009 – Gunner from WIVK
2010 – John Becker from WBIR
2011 – Food City
2012 – Sun Trust Bank
“Sam Hardman” Warrior Award
2013 – Joleen Dewald