5 civilians honored by Army Chief of Staff

WASHINGTON, (Oct. 30, 2014) - - Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the Army's Chief of Staff, presented five American citizens with the Outstanding Civilian Service Award during a special performance of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington's Twilight Tattoo, at Joint Base Myer - Henderson Hall, Va.

Recognized were Mr. Tom Donohue, of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Ms. Suni Harford, of Citigroup; Mr. Tom Werner, of the Red Sox Foundation; Mr. Bob Woodruff, of The Bob Woodruff Foundation and Harvey Naranjo, Wounded Warrior Volunteer. The award is the third-highest public service honor the Army can bestow upon a civilian.

"I have the honor of recognizing five exceptional men and women who have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to those who serve," said Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the Army's Chief of Staff, and host of the program. "They reach out for the simple yet profound reason that they love their country and have a deep respect for those who serve and for the families who stand by them."

Donohue, as President and Chief Executive of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, launched the Hiring Our Heroes program in March 2011 which helped tens of thousands of military veterans and spouses to find employment.

Harford, as Regional Head at Citi Group, has been the driving force behind "Citi Salutes," a one-stop resource for information on career opportunities, money management tools, partnerships with veteran service organizations, and banking products and services tailored to the military and veteran community. She has also been instrumental in creating Veterans on Wall Street, a highly acclaimed coalition of banks committed to both developing careers for veterans and family members, and driving charitable giving in support of veteran service organizations from the financial sector.

Werner, as Chairman of the Boston Red Sox, and in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital, spearheaded the Home Base Program, which provides world class treatment that is enabling over 1,000 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families to recover, heal and return to productive and fulfilling lives.

Woodruff, co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and after sustaining serious injuries while reporting in Iraq, wanted to ensure that injured veterans and their families thrive long after coming home. His foundation has helped find, fund and shape more than one hundred innovative programs bringing hope and healing to more than two million Soldiers and their family members.

Naranjo, as a Wounded Warrior Volunteer, has been instrumental in the development and implementation of Adaptive Sports and Community Reintegration programs in rehabilitation for severally injured service members returning from war. These programs have allowed medical staff at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to harness their patient's warrior and competitive spirit allowing them to maximize their rehabilitation and independence post injury.

The special Twilight Tattoo called "Salute from the Chief" was hosted by Odierno at JBM-HH's Whipple Field.

Twilight Tattoo is an hour-long, live-action military pageant featuring Soldiers from The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own." Audience members experience a glimpse into American history through performances by The U.S. Army Blues, vocalists from The U.S. Army Band Downrange and U.S. Army Band Voices, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and The U.S. Army Drill Team.

Related Links:

Learn more about the U.S. Army Military District of Washington

More images of this event