September 22, 2011 - C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb, left, retired Major League Baseball player Jerry Coleman and actor Beau Bridges are recipients of the 2011 Lone Sailor Award. Bridges also accepted for his brother, Jeff Bridges, and their father, Lloyd Bridges.The recipients were recognized for their achievements following their military service during a dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mikelle D.
Smith |
|
WASHINGTON (NNS - 9/23/2011) -- The Navy Memorial honored six
military veterans during the 2011 Lone Sailor awards dinner held at
the National Building Museum in Washington, Sept. 22.
The
notable veterans included Lloyd "Beau" Bridges III, Jeff Bridges,
Lloyd Bridges, Brian Lamb, Jerry Coleman and Bob Feller. Beau
Bridges, Lamb and Coleman were in attendance and were presented with
the Lone Sailor award before military members and distinguished
guests at the dinner.
Beau Bridges, an actor, producer and
director, was recognized for his accomplishments as a civilian after
serving both active and Reserve duty in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Lamb was recognized for his service as a naval officer and,
later, founder of C-SPAN.
Coleman, said to be the only Major
League Baseball player to have seen combat in two wars, was
recognized for the 120 missions he flew as an aviator and his
devotion to the Marine Corps. |
The Lone Sailor award is presented to veterans who have
excelled in their respective civilian careers while
continuing to exemplify military values.
"This event
allows the Navy Memorial Foundation, and the entire Navy,
the opportunity to recognize individuals who have made
significant contributions to the maritime services and our
nation," said Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark
Ferguson.
Beau Bridges, following in the footsteps of
his father Lloyd, enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1959
and served eight years as a Reservist, after active duty.
"I enlisted when I was 17 after Kennedy threw up the
blockade in Cuba," said Bridges. "My father, thinking that
there would be a draft, suggested that I try to choose my
service beforehand. My father had been made an honorary
commodore in the Coast Guard and I knew a lot of the
personnel, so I chose to enlist in the Coast Guard."
Bridges accepted his Lone Sailor Award on behalf of his
deceased father, Lloyd, and younger brother Jeff who could
not attend the event.
"My motto in the Coast Guard
was Semper Paratus, which means "always ready." That is
something that I have carried with me my whole life," said
Bridges. "I also learned how important respect is;
respecting yourself, respecting your mates, respecting the
authorities that are training you and getting you ready ...
these are all qualities that I have tried to pass on to my
children and carry on for myself and my life."
Lamb,
who enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Purdue
University, served in many different media elements during
his time in the military. He was an aide in the Johnson
administration and also a Pentagon public affairs officer
during the Vietnam War.
"When I got into the Navy
there was structure," said Lamb. "I found people that were
dedicated and committed ... I got a sense that people wanted
me to learn and all of that fed into the beginning of my
life; these foundation experiences will always be paramount
in my life."
Lamb added that he didn't think he
would have done what he did without serving in the Navy.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy in
1967, Lamb began working as a freelance reporter and spent
the next 12 years honing his skills as a political media
journalist. In 1977, he won the support of key cable
industry executives and began developing a station using
satellite uplinks, known today as C-SPAN.
"The advice
I would give to young Sailors today would be to look around
and take advantage of every opportunity available to you,"
said Lamb. "Always ask questions. Get down to the bottom of
why someone wants you to do what they are asking. If you pay
attention, it will help you and it can work for you."
Coleman joined the Marine Corps in 1942 as a naval
aviation cadet. After receiving his wings in 1944, he was
commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant, and went on to see combat
during World War II and the Korean War.
"When I found
out I was getting the Lone Sailor award, I was thrilled to
death," said Coleman. "The proudest moment of my life was
the day that I got my second lieutenant bars and my aviator
wings ... that still, to this day, remains the highlight of
my life."
Coleman returned to professional baseball
in 1953 and finished up his career in 1957. He went on to
become a sports broadcaster for CBS television and has been
recognized by the Marine Corps, as well as being inducted
into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2007 for his work in
broadcasting.
"As a professional baseball player and
broadcaster I think the one thing that stayed with me since
my time in the service has been trying to do my best," said
Coleman. "When called upon, the United States military are
the best qualified [people] in the world."
Prior to
the awards ceremony dinner, Bridges, Lamb and Coleman
received a tour of the Navy Memorial, which houses the Lone
Sailor statue. The Lone Sailor statue is a composite of the
U.S. Navy bluejacket, past, present and future, and was
designed in 1987.
The Lone Sailor award has been
presented to 73 Navy and Marine Corps veterans, and the Navy
Memorial continues to provide Navy veterans and personnel
currently serving with a place to celebrate their service.
By Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Mikelle D. Smith, Defense Media Activity
Navy News Service
Copyright 2011
Comment on this article |
