Veterans affairs
special features
john's vietnam era veterans readjustment act celebration speech from may 2000
j. craig venter's veterans day 2000 speech
links to related sites
hope mcdermott fund and the hope mcdermott day program center
canadian war museum
fallen heroes fund
the moving wall
u.s. department of veterans affairs
veterans affairs/anciens combattants canada
of special interest
John McDermott has continued his work on behalf of veterans through even the busiest years of his career.
"The Veterans population is virtually ignored outside of one day a year," John explains, "So much of the music I sing really speaks to the veterans' experience and I feel a great deal of respect for the men and women who put their lives on the line for the sake of their country."
John recently appeared in the National Memorial Concert special on PBS. This public television production honors those who served the nation in times of war. This yearís National Memorial Day Concert featured a moving tribute to the World War II generation and the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor with eminent journalist Walter Cronkite, and a 10th anniversary salute to the veterans of Desert Storm.
In October of 2001, the Congressional Medial of Honor Society presented John with the prestigious "Bob Hope Award". "The Bob Hope Award" is reserved for those persons, who, through their lifeís work in the entertainment industry, have distinguished themselves by outstanding service to or positive portrayal of the United States Military. Additionally, in February of 2001, John received the Chapel of Four Chaplainís Humanitarian Award, which seeks to honor those who are dedicated to keeping alive the ideals embodied in the sacrifice of four clergymen who died in the sinking of a troopship during World War II. When the vessel went down four clergymen--a rabbi, two Protestant ministers and a Catholic priest--gave their life jackets to servicemen who had none.
On October 12th, 2000, John attended the official opening of the Hope McDermott Day Program Center at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Boston, MA. The Hope McDermott Day Program Center is the first of what John's hopes to be many program centers across the country that helps veterans make the transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
Veterans' Day, 1999 was a highlight of John McDermott's career, as the government and veterans community officially recognized his contributions. He attended the Veterans' Day Breakfast at The White House as a guest of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). The VA also brought John to the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. John appropriately performed his song "The Wall," written by Vietnam Veteran Tim Murphy at the annual commemoration ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. This performance was broadcast nationally on C-Span, CNN, and the major news networks. Finally, John shared the Constitution Hall stage with Miss America 2000 Heather Renee French as the two performed the newly commissioned "A Veterans Hymn." John and Heather share an official cause: homeless veterans.
In July 1999, John attended groundbreaking ceremonies in Washington, D.C. for The McDermott House, a transitional housing cooperative for veterans, named in recognition of his personal commitment to the universal betterment of veterans' causes. The facility, which will house as many as 40 D.C. area veterans, is a first-of-its-kind joint project of the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs and the D.C. Housing Authority.
Boston's New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans is a special beneficiary of John's generosity. His work on behalf of this important institution includes a benefit dinner, concerts for Shelter guests, and a share in the proceeds of his Boston area concerts. The shelter honored John as its Man of the Year in October of 1999.
2002 and beyond will see John continue to work to honor veterans. He recently completed his first annual Remembrance Tour across Canada and the U.S. honoring those who served their country and his upcoming television special, "John McDermott ñ A Time to Remember" will feature a moving tribute to veterans.
Veterans affairs
special features
john's vietnam era veterans readjustment act celebration speech from may 2000
j. craig venter's veterans day 2000 speech
links to related sites
hope mcdermott fund and the hope mcdermott day program center
canadian war museum
fallen heroes fund
the moving wall
u.s. department of veterans affairs
veterans affairs/anciens combattants canada
of special interest
John McDermott has continued his work on behalf of veterans through even the busiest years of his career.
"The Veterans population is virtually ignored outside of one day a year," John explains, "So much of the music I sing really speaks to the veterans' experience and I feel a great deal of respect for the men and women who put their lives on the line for the sake of their country."
John recently appeared in the National Memorial Concert special on PBS. This public television production honors those who served the nation in times of war. This yearís National Memorial Day Concert featured a moving tribute to the World War II generation and the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor with eminent journalist Walter Cronkite, and a 10th anniversary salute to the veterans of Desert Storm.
In October of 2001, the Congressional Medial of Honor Society presented John with the prestigious "Bob Hope Award". "The Bob Hope Award" is reserved for those persons, who, through their lifeís work in the entertainment industry, have distinguished themselves by outstanding service to or positive portrayal of the United States Military. Additionally, in February of 2001, John received the Chapel of Four Chaplainís Humanitarian Award, which seeks to honor those who are dedicated to keeping alive the ideals embodied in the sacrifice of four clergymen who died in the sinking of a troopship during World War II. When the vessel went down four clergymen--a rabbi, two Protestant ministers and a Catholic priest--gave their life jackets to servicemen who had none.
On October 12th, 2000, John attended the official opening of the Hope McDermott Day Program Center at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Boston, MA. The Hope McDermott Day Program Center is the first of what John's hopes to be many program centers across the country that helps veterans make the transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
Veterans' Day, 1999 was a highlight of John McDermott's career, as the government and veterans community officially recognized his contributions. He attended the Veterans' Day Breakfast at The White House as a guest of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). The VA also brought John to the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. John appropriately performed his song "The Wall," written by Vietnam Veteran Tim Murphy at the annual commemoration ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. This performance was broadcast nationally on C-Span, CNN, and the major news networks. Finally, John shared the Constitution Hall stage with Miss America 2000 Heather Renee French as the two performed the newly commissioned "A Veterans Hymn." John and Heather share an official cause: homeless veterans.
In July 1999, John attended groundbreaking ceremonies in Washington, D.C. for The McDermott House, a transitional housing cooperative for veterans, named in recognition of his personal commitment to the universal betterment of veterans' causes. The facility, which will house as many as 40 D.C. area veterans, is a first-of-its-kind joint project of the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs and the D.C. Housing Authority.
Boston's New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans is a special beneficiary of John's generosity. His work on behalf of this important institution includes a benefit dinner, concerts for Shelter guests, and a share in the proceeds of his Boston area concerts. The shelter honored John as its Man of the Year in October of 1999.
2002 and beyond will see John continue to work to honor veterans. He recently completed his first annual Remembrance Tour across Canada and the U.S. honoring those who served their country and his upcoming television special, "John McDermott ñ A Time to Remember" will feature a moving tribute to veterans.
