Freddie J. Owens Memorial Award | Vet to Vet Tennessee

"Amino et fide", by courage and faith, is best known as the historic motto of the US Army First Cavalry Regiment Unit Crest, a symbol of unyielding dedication to duty.

Freddie was a special human who did not seek notoriety, recognition, or self-promotion but instead maintained profound kindness and love for people in need. He developed cancer from Agent Orange, endured chemotherapy, and poured his heart into efforts to bring fairness, justice, and honor to women in uniform. He believed female veterans were owed recognition for surrendering civilian life, and the treatment of women veterans fell below even the bar of disrespect shown to Vietnam vets when they returned home to American soil.

This award was created in honor of Vet to Vet Tennessee and the Knoxville Regional Veterans Mental Health Council’s co-founder, Freddie J. Owens, on October 4, 2018, during the inaugural 2018 Freddie J. Owens Women Veterans Summit.

Two (2) awards will be presented annually to veteran advocates who demonstrate the same ethos as Freddie: one to a veteran or military individual and one to a civilian.

The 2026 Freddie J. Owens Memorial Award recipients are:

Johnny McKinley receiving the FJO award from Roxe Bacon, Vet to Vet TN's Secretary and 2025 FJO recipient.

Johnny McKinley is a former justice-involved veteran and graduate of Monroe County Veterans Court. He was kicked out of VA rehab, his self-worth depleted. After eight tries in rehab, he found new meaning with Vet to Vet Tennessee and now mentors other justice-involved veterans, teaching recovery and accountability rather than punishment.

Co-founder Ed Junod and Chair Rob Myers were presenting the award to Jessica Carlton, MSSW, Assistant Director of Homeless & Recovery Services, Jennifer, Knox County Adult Center Director, and Travis Miller, Military Services Center therapist, an honor they deserved for years. The McNabb Military Service Center also received a Freddie J. Owens Memorial Award for treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorder, and for improving mental health among Veterans Court participants.

Co-founder Ed Junod and Chair Rob Myers were presenting the award to Jessica Carlton, MSSW
Assistant Director of Homeless & Recovery Services, Jennifer, Knox County Adult Center Director, and Travis Miller, Military Services Center therapist, an honor they deserved for years.

McKinley and McNabb’s mental health advocates are living examples of humility and self-sacrifice that echo Owens’ example.

The awards ceremony was held at the Monroe County Justice Center on April 8, 2026.

The 2025 Freddie J. Owens Memorial Award recipients are:

Dr. Richard J. Junod – USMC, Vet to Vet Tennessee strategic partner since VTVT’s inception and co-writer of the Freddie J. Owens Memorial Award.

Presented to Richard's family at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery on April 24, 2025

Roxe M. Hurley – Vet to Vet Tennessee Secretary, Veterans Court Mentor, and family member of military service veterans will receive her award at the Robert "Bob" Hatley Monroe County Veterans Service Center on July 9, 2025.

Click here to view a copy of the award. Click here to view previous recipients.

We are always searching for the next Freddie J. Owens Memorial Award recipient. If you know someone who has the same heart, faith, and dedication to men and women of the United States military services, please complete the form below.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett (now Congressman)and Redemption Church Pastor and Vietnam Army Veteran Dr. Ed King were the first two recipient in 2018.

The VA Integrative Mental Health (IMH) Video Training Series aims to support care providers in their efforts to collaboratively address spiritual and psychosocial needs, build communities of care, nurture integrative practices, and sustain systems of wholistic care. The first in a series of three Bridging Videos from our program addresses the need to consider including spiritual care providers as part of the treatment team to provide holistic, patient-centered care. This video explores the rationale for integrating mental health and chaplain services, presents research findings in the domains of religion, spirituality, and health, and highlights cautionary considerations for interpreting and applying these findings. For more information, please click here. God bless America.

Veterans are 10 times more likely to speak with a person of faith than they are with any other person. Click to see why!

Many are aware that many Veterans seek healing through faith, and we are seeking to utilize a network of VMFCs to reach those wounded Veterans. We ask you to develop a Veteran ministry within your congregation. We are currently operating in 26 states and expanding daily. To learn more about the Military Chaplains Association's VMFC program, click here.

VMFC bootcamps are held on the 3rd Thursday of every three months. Register here.

As a result of the outstanding success of our "Operation Military Masterpiece” initiative at Brown Middle School in Sweetwater, TN, we have developed a new program, "Ethos Student Art (ESA)." The program is available to middle and high schools in Monroe County and the surrounding Counties. Dr. Amber Patty co-developed the ESA program with Vet to Vet TN. It is preferred to have an art teacher teach the class. Click here to view the lesson plan. VTVT will sponsor the class. Helps us teach the kids to have fun and learn about honor, respect, duty, and service.