RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 2611550-UUUU--RUCRNAD
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R 171550Z SEP 12
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//                
TO NAVADMIN                               
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//   
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NAVADMIN 286/12

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/SEP//

SUBJ/SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD RECIPIENT//

REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/221751ZDEC10//
AMPN/REF A IS NAVADMIN 410/10, SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD.// 

RMKS/1.  THIS NAVADMIN ANNOUNCES THE SELECTION OF MRS. CAROLYN BLASHEK AS 
NAVY'S 2011 SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD WINNER AS DETERMINED BY THE NOMINATION 
PROCESS IN REF A.  MRS. BLASHEK IS THE FOUNDER OF OPERATION GRATITUDE, A 
VOLUNTEER-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS DEPLOYED SERVICE MEMBERS, THEIR 
CHILDREN, AND WOUNDED WARRIORS.  KEEPING SERVICE MEMBERS IN THE HEARTS AND 
MINDS OF OUR NATION'S CITIZENS IS PART OF HER DAILY LIFE.

2.  MRS. BLASHEK WAS NOMINATED BY COMMANDING OFFICER, HELICOPTER SEA COMBAT 
SQUADRON 85.  SINCE THEIR INCEPTION IN 2003, OPERATION GRATITUDE HAS SENT OVER 
750,000 CARE PACKAGES AND LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUAL SERVICE MEMBERS 
DEPLOYED IN HARM'S WAY, INCLUDING OVER 60 SHIPS AND OVER 30,000 "BATTALION 
BUDDY" GIFT BOXES TO THE CHILDREN OF DEPLOYING WARRIORS.  MRS. BLASHEK'S 
EFFORTS ARE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW AN ORDINARY PERSON CAN DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS 
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 

3.  MRS. BLASHEK WILL BE PRESENTED THE 2011 SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD AT A JOINT 
CEREMONY HONORING AWARDEES FROM ALL SERVICES AT THE PENTAGON ON 15 NOVEMBER 
2012.

4.  THE SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD IS NAMED FOR MR. BOB HOPE, AND IS PRESENTED 
ANNUALLY BY THE WIEGAND FOUNDATION TO INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMBODY 
MR. HOPE'S FIVE DECADE-LONG COMMITMENT AND SERVICE TO MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN.  
A NAVY NOMINEE HAS NOT BEEN HONORED WITH THIS AWARD SINCE 2005.  

5.  POINT OF CONTACT IS MS. MILLIE KING, OPNAV N135D, AT (703) 604-5049/DSN 
664 OR VIA E-MAIL AT millie.king@navy.mil.

6.  RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL S. R. VAN BUSKIRK, N1.//

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