|
|
Hispanic war veterans of America
The Aguila Award
History:
Throughout History since the Civil War of the United States,
there have been many Hispanic Veterans, men and women that
are unrecognized for their contributions during active
military duty, the Cold War as Veterans serving in a
civilian capacity or with community organizations.
Purpose:
To recognize and honor an individual for his/her tireless
work in representing the ideals, views and issues at the
core of the Hispanic War Veterans of America organization.
Recognition happens at the HWVA Annual Luncheon.
Selection:
Selections are made at the discretion of the President and
the Executive Director upon consultation with the Executive
Board.
Criteria:
The Aguila Award is presented to an
outstanding individual in recognition of his/her significant
contributions over a lifetime or most recently, in his/her
work, volunteer or advocacy activities, that advance the
quality of life directly or indirectly on the men and women
of our Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
·
This
award may be presented to an HWVA member or someone eligible
for membership; but eligibility is not a criterion for
consideration.
·
Contributions of the designee should be high profile in
nature and therefore have had a wide-ranging effect and/or
impact.
·
Designee should display the ideals and values defined by the
mission of the HWVA organization.
·
The
award recipient should be an individual who can serve the
organization, membership and community as an inspirational
role model and/or spokesperson.
1st
Annual Aguila Award Recipient
Vice
Admiral Richard H. Carmona, U.S. Surgeon General
Vice
Admiral Carmona is our 17th Surgeon General.
Swear into office in August 2002, he is a combat decorated
Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient serving in the
U.S. Army Special Forces. Carmona, of Puerto Rican decent,
was born and raised in New York City. He joined the Army in
1967. He earned his medical degree from the University of
California Medical School, and his master’s degree in Public
Health from the University of Arizona. The Admiral is
extensively published and has received numerous professional
awards and decorations. He is a strong advocate of the
value of community service as evidence by his appointment to
many diverse community and national boards.
An Open Letter to my Fellow Officers of the United States
Public Health Service
posted 8/3/2006
by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th
Surgeon General of the United States
A little more than four years ago,
President George W. Bush picked me from relative obscurity
to be the 17th Surgeon General of the United States. As you
know, the Surgeon General is appointed by the President and
confirmed by the United States Senate for a four-year term
of office. As my term ends this week, I would like to leave
you with three thoughts as I return to civilian life, and
your service continues.
First, I would like to thank you for your
service to our nation and for your esprit de corps. It is
heartening to know that more than 6,000 dedicated public
health professionals are delivering the best healthcare with
the passion and dignity that you all personify. Your
commitment to the most vulnerable people, in times of
emergency and on a day-to-day basis, provides the help and
hope that I lacked growing up as a poor child in an
immigrant neighborhood. Your service helps ensure that more
children can learn, grow, and prepare themselves for a
healthy and productive adulthood. Your readiness to deploy
when natural and manmade disasters strike here at home and
abroad ensures that disaster victims receive aid and medical
care in their darkest hours. You also represent the best of
America, especially as we have moved forward the concept of
global health, due to the recognition that the challenges
before us do not respect our geopolitical borders. Knowing
this, you have become superb emissaries of health diplomacy
throughout the world. I know that President Bush sees you as
a key part of his efforts to assist our neighbors and allies
in their times of need.
I hope that as your Surgeon General, I've
led our Corps in a manner of which you can be proud. I have
benefited tremendously from the advice of former Surgeons
General Koop, Elders, Novello, and Satcher. They took me
under their collective wing and always counseled me to,
above all else, protect the dignity and integrity of the
Office of the Surgeon General. My fellow Surgeons General
left me big shoes to fill. Today I enter into our very small
and unique fraternity with great pride and anticipation that
we can still work together to advance the health, safety,
and security of the nation...and the globe.
Second, I want to ask you to continue the
spirit of collaboration we established across the Department
of Heath and Human Services, our sister uniformed services,
the broader public health community, the scientific
community, healthcare professions, academia, and so many
other private- and public-sector partners. I've learned that
serving as Surgeon General includes much more than writing
warning labels for cigarette packages. Of course, warning
individuals about the dangers of smoking is an important
public health role, and studies time and time again have
shown that no cigarette or tobacco product is safe and the
health effects of smoking go well beyond the smoker alone.
But with your help, my four years as
Surgeon General have gone beyond warnings.
In the past four years, We have
established important safeguards, and educated more
Americans about the importance of preparing themselves,
their families, and their communities for natural and
manmade disasters. As a nation, we know that the question
isn't if we will experience another major attack or natural
disaster, but when, and it is our responsibility to work
together to be ready.
* We have increased focus on the need to
eliminate the health disparities that are still damaging the
lives of millions of Americans, and holding us back as a
nation.
* We have trained Americans' attention on
the power of prevention. Before becoming Surgeon General, my
experiences as a U.S. Army Special Forces medic, a police
officer in Arizona, a SWAT team member, a nurse, a surgeon,
and a professor taught me that we must focus on prevention
and life-long healthy living as a key component to improving
the health and well-being of all Americans. It has become
increasingly clear that we must move from a treatment-
oriented society to a prevention-oriented society. As you
work with your patients in treating and educating them,
remember to take the time to point out ways that they can
become healthier. Through initiatives such as the
President's HealthierUS, we have encouraged American
families to take small, manageable steps within their
current lifestyle - versus drastic changes - to ensure
long-term health. Please continue that important work.
* We have started the transformation of
the Commissioned Corps into an even more highly trained,
capable, visible, and mobile cadre of public health
professionals.
* We have established the Medical Reserve
Corps to bring together teams of local volunteer medical and
public health professionals to contribute their skills and
expertise throughout the year as well as during times of
community need.
* We have issued groundbreaking Surgeon
General Reports, Calls to Action, and other communications,
including "The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure
to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General," "Bone
Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General,"
"The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon
General," "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve
the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities," and
the "National Call to Action to Improve Oral Health." We
have also held Surgeon General Workshops on Healthy Indoor
Environment and Prevention of Child Maltreatment, and
initiated plans for many more Reports, Calls to Action, and
Workshops that are currently in progress in the Office of
the Surgeon General.
* We have increased Americans' health
literacy by communicating health information in ways that
people can use and understand. I have always believed that
the scientific information in Surgeon Generals' Reports and
other communications belonged not just on the bookshelves of
my fellow healthcare professionals, but in the hands of the
American people. That is why I made sure that we issued a
"People's Piece" with each Report developed under my tenure.
Last week, we issued a People's Piece on how to improve the
health and wellness of persons with disabilities. In
addition, with my friend and colleague Dr. Francis Collins
at the National Human Genome Research Institute, the Office
of the Surgeon General developed "The U.S. Surgeon General's
Family History Initiative" to give Americans the tools to
understand what steps to take if certain diseases "run in
the family."
* With colleagues across nearly every part
of the Department of Health and Human Services, we
established 2005 as The Year of the Healthy Child to make
sure that Americans from every walk of life have access to
the information we need as parents, grandparents, teachers,
counselors, coaches, childcare professionals, and healthcare
professionals to help raise healthy children and young
people. I want to thank and encourage all adults to find
time to contribute to the health and well-being of future
generations. You have a positive influence and serve as role
models 365 days a year.
When announcing my nomination as Surgeon
General in March 2002, President Bush said that it was
important for me to speak regularly to the nation about
alcohol and drug abuse, and the tremendous toll they take on
our society, and specifically cited that substance abuse by
students undermines academic achievement and dims the great
hope of the American Dream. That is why I set out to visit
schools across America and talk with students about staying
in school; and avoiding drugs, alcohol, and violence. This
was especially important to me because I am a high-school
dropout. I wanted to let kids know that everyone makes
mistakes, but everyone also has the chance to pick up and
start over after those mistakes. We all get second chances.
I know that I've failed many more times in my life than I've
succeeded. The difference is that I always tried one more
time.
Third, and finally, I know that in the
end, people will ask if my four years as Surgeon General did
any good, and, honestly, only time will tell. But I believe
that if one student who was on the verge of making some bad
choices decided to correct his or her course, or if a mother
decided to quit smoking to improve her child's health, or if
one caregiver saw the intrinsic value of all human life that
led to better care for a disabled person, then yes, it was
all worth it. Although serving in a vast bureaucracy, as
advisor to the most powerful leaders in the world, I always
tried to speak for the people and deliver the scientific
data, without the influence of politics. My fellow officers,
your support gave me the courage to always deliver the
science, untainted by politics, and to always speak up for
the marginalized, the forgotten, the poor, the disabled, and
the injured in our society.
Thank you for making it possible for me to
fulfill our mission to protect, promote, and advance the
health and safety of the nation. It has been my distinct
privilege and honor to serve with you. As I prepare to
return home, I reflect on many of the lessons I've learned
from you and my fellow Surgeons General. Perhaps one of the
most important is "Once a Surgeon General, Always a Surgeon
General," and therefore I look forward to continuing to work
with you, as well as continuing to build upon the
friendships we've established over the past four years.
Respectfully,
Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS
The 17th Surgeon General of the United
States |
