HONOLULU NAVY LEAGUE SALUTES MILDRED COURTNEY AND SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN AT 9TH ANNUAL AMERICAN PATRIOT DINNER

“Both Mildred Courtney and Senator McCain have selflessly supported our military for years and have made positive impacts on everyone around them,” said Board President David Livingston. “We are thrilled to be able to honor these two very dynamic individuals at this year’s Patriot Awards.”

Mildred Courtney first joined Outrigger Enterprises in June of 1955 as a switchboard operation; quickly rising through the ranks to general manager of multiple hotels.  It was in this capacity that she noticed a lack of attention given to military guests and recognized the need to offer them more flexibility given their possible mission changes.  Today, Courtney oversees all military room sales and guest relations, keeping open lines of communication with the military community on behalf of Outrigger and Ohana Hotels.  She is also active in numerous military organizations and initiatives, include Hale Malama at Marine Corps Base Hawaii Operation Paperback, which she started; and the Navy League of Honolulu; among others.

Senator John McCain is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. During his 23rd bombing mission in North Vietnam on October 26, 1967, a missile struck McCain’s aircraft and he was forced to eject.  He broke both arms and a leg on impact and was taken as a POW, where he was denied medical treatment and often beaten by his captors.  McCain’s last duty assignment was serving as the naval liaison for the United States Senate. He retired in 1981 with naval honors including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross. Senator McCain was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 for two terms and then elected to the U.S. Senate in 1985. He is currently serving his fourth term.  A Former Federal Trade Commissioner and fellow POW, Retired Marine Lt Col Orson Swindle, will be accepting the award on Senator McCain’s behalf.  Swindle will be joined on Stage by honorary co-chairs, fellow POW Capt. Jerry Coffee and WW2 Veteran Retried RADM Joe Vasey; both previous recipients of the American Patriot Award.

Premium tables of eight are still available and range from $2,500 to $15,000.  For more information or to purchase tickets, contact (808) 422-9404.

The American Patriot Awards Dinner is just one of many events scheduled during the Navy League of the United States’ National Conference that will take place in Honolulu from June 20 through 23, 2012.  Other public events will include a Welcome Aboard Reception, Wounded Warriors Reception and Pearl Harbor Tour.

The Honolulu Council Navy League is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Americans about the importance of sea power to U.S. national security and supporting its military men and women and their families. Funds generated help to support the mission’s youth programs, including the Naval Sea Cadets, NJROTC, and to provide support services to families of deployed personnel, scholarships for military spouses and recognition for active service personnel. For more information about the Honolulu Council Navy League, visit www.HonoluluNavyLeague.org.