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6TH ANNUAL VETERANS AWARDS (VETTYS)
CHAPTER I: UNEXPECTED VOICES: MENTAL HEALTH

NEW DATE: JULY 3, 2021 | WASHINGTON, D.C.

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The Veterans Awards, also known as the Vettys, is an annual award ceremony presented by the Academy of United States Veterans. The awards honor members of the veteran community in the United States in various categories. The 6th Annual Veterans Awards will shine a light on the mental health epidemic that surrounds many of our military and civilian families. 

Andrew W Mellon Auditorium

Washington, D.C. 

5:45 PM Private Dinner for Diamond VIP and Black Diamond VIP Ticket holders only. 

7:00 PM Red Carpet and doors will open to all guests. 

8:00 PM Presentation of the 6th Annual Veterans Awards 

9:30 PM Masquerade Ball/After Party and an unforgettable night of glamour and dancing. 

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CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD VIEWS MENTAL HEALTH

For the theme of the 6th VETTYS we have selected mental health to draw attention to the persistent failure of mental health care for our nation’s veteran community. The continual failure of this care and lack of meaningful action to address it is most clearly evident in increases in veteran suicide over the last decade. From 2009 to 2019 more veterans lost their lives to suicide than the total of American combat deaths during the Vietnam War. This statistic bears out, with veterans now one and half times as likely to commit suicide compared to the civilian population, despite the rise in suicide in the general population. 

 

Terri Tanielian from RAND made it abundantly clear in her congressional testimony: “This is a national security problem. We can and must do more to address this problem.” 

 

Therefore that is what we are doing and will continue to do.

 

Motivated by the numerous accounts of our members in the community about their struggles with mental health and accessing care we are taking action, launching Unexpected Voices at the VETTYS.

 

The platform of the VETTYS, enables us to bring a louder voice to our veteran community and call out the many flaws in the mental health care system and break down the stigma around mental health. With a louder voice, we will bring about actionable change in how the VA and the larger community treat and care for veterans with mental health issues. 

 

Our veterans have served our nation defending our freedoms, and they deserve to live fulfilling dignified lives in the country they served, it is the nation’s and our collective responsibility to ensure this. 

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PRESENTERS 

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CASEY AFFLECK

ACTOR | ADVOCATE | PHILATHROPIST

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

GONE BABY GONE

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ION OVERMAN

ACTRESS | HUMANITARIAN

WISDOM OF THE CROWD

MADEA GOES TO JAIL

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ERIC DANE

ACTOR | ADVOCATE | PHILATHROPIST

EUPHORIA

GREY'S ANATOMY

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CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD VIEWES MENTAL HEALTH

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PUBLIC VOTING IS NOW OPEN

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ANDREW W MELLON

THE NIGHT

Waltz into the magical world of VETTYS, as Veterans honor public service in the Mental Health space. Experience the military community upclose and personal, its culture and its traditions, with all the magic of a Mask Ball.  

The 6th Annual Veterans Awards is dedicated to the launch of Unexpected Voices, our mental health and suicide prevention campaign. 

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“We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality, 

we create it to be able to stay.”-― Lynda Barry

6th Annual Veterans Awards
official after party will be a 


Bal Masqué

Candles in all shapes and sizes and elegant candelabras in golds and greens.
Music and visuals heighten your senses as the night shields the Vettys Court and the chambers surrounding it.

Of course, the main point of a Masquerade is to dress your best to astonish friends and strangers alike. Be imaginative, revel in the ambiance as the world falls down. . .

MVS WON SUFFRAGETTE

Melwood Veteran Services took home a Vetty in the Suffragette category at the 5th Annual Veterans Awards on January 18, 2020. 

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CASEY AFFLECK AND OUR GANGE

Casey Affleck, Hollywood Heard, Nick Palmisciano, Suzy Palmisciano and Check Foundation, CEO, COL Rob Balzano and his board members at the 5th Annual Veterans Awards. 

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January 20, 2019

Casey Affleck Presents Mental Health Vetty®

“We are delighted to have multiple talents from the entertainment industry joining us in honoring our veterans on this remarkable Vettys® nigh. Casey’s attendance is truly one for the books, and we couldn’t be more grateful”

-Assal Ravandi

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November 11, 2015

American Journalist Jake Tapper Receives a Vetty®

“This is my first time hosting this event and it’s a great honor. Veterans are a group that I try to pay attention to on my show; they’re a group I try to pay attention in my life” 

-Jake Tapper

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@jaketapper

Jake Tapper

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January 22, 2018

Motivational Speaker Montel Williams Supports the Vettys®

“I get the opportunity to travel around this country on a daily basis—and there is nothing prouder in my life—or world—than to be able to step up and say that I am a veteran”

-Montel Williams

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November 11, 2015

Actress Kate Walsh Presents 1st Vettys®

“There are so many hard working men and women who do everything they can and risk their lives. Some of them lose their lives. I do anything I can to bring attention to the needs of our men and women when they come home and assimilate back into society” 

-Kate Walsh

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@katewalsh

Kate Walsh

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January 4, 2018

“ The Vettys uphold the stature of who veterans truly are by highlighting their remarkable achievements that are all too often overlooked”

-Assal Ravandi

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@NateBoyer37

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January