The fourth annual Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards raised more than half a million dollars for The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project at the recent event. Held on October 26 at City Winery, Chris Young, the War Hippies and Lee Greenwood all performed, with the Charlie Daniels Patriot Award given to actor Gary Sinise, U.S. Army combat veteran and The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project Ambassador Joel Pruitt and Nashville businessman Lee Beaman.

“Once again, those who are concerned about the welfare of our returning veterans came to make a difference,” The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project’s co-founder and Daniels’ longtime manager David Corlew said. “It was a wonderful evening of patriotism, support and caring. Chris Young, Lee Greenwood and the War Hippies all joined to make it the biggest night our organization has experienced since we began.”

Sinise was unable to attend in person, but sent a video message expressing his gratitude for receiving the honor. The 67-year-old has been an outspoken advocate throughout his career, of the military, through his own Gary Sinise Foundation.

“I am honored to receive this award from Charlie Daniels, in his name,” Sinise said in the video. “One of the great pleasures and privileges that I’ve had in my life was to play with Charlie a couple of times … To receive an award in his name is a blessing, a privilege, an honor. Why did I get so lucky? I don’t know. It is my privilege to receive it, and I only wish that I could be there in person.”

Beaman also has been an avid supporter of military causes, which is why receiving the Charlie Daniels Patriot Award was so meaningful to him.

“I am both humbled and honored to receive the Charlie Daniels Patriot Award,” Beaman said. “We are blessed to live in this great nation, and I am grateful to the men and women who sacrifice so much to preserve and protect the freedoms we have in our country. I am blessed to have the opportunity to help The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project in supporting those great soldiers.”

Guest speakers for the event included former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik, and retired Col. Jay Powers, former Commanding Officer, 5th Group (U.S. Army Green Beret – Fort Campbell, KY).  SiriusXM’s Storme Warren hosted the dinner. Daniels’ wife Hazel and son Charlie Daniels, Jr. were in attendance, as well as Congressman Mark Green. In addition, both 97-year-old WWII Navy vet Mathias Gutman and 99-year-old WWII Coast Guard vet Gladys Hughes were honored during the event.

Corlew has no doubt Daniels would have heartily approved of the event, held each year in his memory.

“We even had an appearance from a combat warrior serving in the Middle East who shared his belief that what we are doing is making a major impact,” Corlew said. “Charlie would be very proud of the energy and kindness in that room. It’s an honor to be a part of Charlie’s legacy and dream to serve the servicemen and women of the United States military in such an epic way.”

Donations to The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project, which helps veterans of the United States Armed Forces in various ways, can be made here.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Absolute Publicity / Robyn McIsaac