Look Who’s Coming to Congress! Distinguished Honorees Highlight Conference

After months of work behind the scenes, I am thrilled to share with you highlights of the lineup of exciting speakers who will share remarks during evening sessions of the upcoming 130th Continental Congress.

Opening Night, which is themed “Proud to Be an American,” will feature singer and songwriter Lee Greenwood, who will accept the Founders Medal for Patriotism, in recognition of his work on behalf of active duty military and his patriotic standard “God Bless the USA.” In addition, we will welcome Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky, author of this year’s NSDAR Excellence in American History Book Award, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution. The DAR Americanism Medal will be presented to naturalized citizen Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND snacks. Lubetzky is a business leader, investor and social entrepreneur working to build bridges between people.

National Defense Night will be headlined by remarks from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, who will receive the DAR Patriot Award. Secretary Austin is the principal assistant to the President in all matters relating to the Department of Defense and serves on the National Security Council. A U.S.M.A. graduate, he was awarded the Silver Star for his leadership of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Seven years later, he assumed the duties of Commanding General of United States Forces – Iraq, overseeing all combat operations in the country. After a tour as the Army’s Vice Chief of Staff, Secretary Austin concluded his uniformed service as the Commander of U.S. Central Command, responsible for all military operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan. In this assignment, he led U.S. and coalition efforts to battle ISIS in Iraq and Syria. He retired from the Army in April 2016.