November 11, 2016 Knoxville, Tennessee
Freddie Owens, Army Ia Drang Vietnam survivor, Vice Chairman of the Knoxville Regional Veterans Mental Health Council, President of Vet to Vet Tennessee, was presented the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council’s (ETMAC) “Sam Hardman Memorial Award” by Colonel Owen Hardman USAF (Ret,) ETMAC President for his leadership & outstanding progress with Veterans Courts and Veteran/Military Friendly Congregations.
ETMAC’s major award 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.
Please make sure you let Freddie how proud we are and honored to call him our brother. Send him an email at fowens@tnvhc.org.
