Brenda Valentine, First Lady of Hunting , Puryear, TN, BASS PRO SHOP’S TV Co-Host, NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION National Spokesperson, Bethel UNIVERSITY Head Archery Coach, is the recipient of the AMVET’S highest award, the prestigious Silver Bayonet Veteran Service, announced by the organization. The award was presented during the Joint Opening ceremony of the AMVETS and Ladies Auxiliary, state convention in Gatlinburg, TN with a reception following the ceremony.
Valentine was recognized for her dedication in bringing awareness and outdoor opportunities to wounded and disabled veterans during recent years. Valentine, who is a passionate hunter and conservationist, has helped make it possible for disabled and recovering vets to enjoy the outdoors and be a part of the hunting experience.
For the past 5 years Valentine has shared her time and experience guiding and assisting recovering male and female veterans on turkey hunts, many for the first time. She has brought national awareness to this group of veterans through television, print and electronic media. In addition to the dedication Valentine has shown for wounded and disabled vets she is among the inaugural group invited by Armed Forces Entertainment co-sponsored by Paralyzed Veterans of America to represent the outdoor industry in the upcoming “Outdoor Legends Tour” designed to thank our troops stationed on foreign soil.
As a veteran of the Vietnam war and a disable veteran 100%, it is always a joyful thing to hear when a person involved in the outdoors, will step toward and help those in uniform and our veterans enjoy our great outdoors. I thank Brenda Valentine and other like them for giving up their time and some of their life for veterans causes. We just had Jim Zumbo in Alaska at our local Sportsmans Warehouse. Again I thank them both for caring. When the Vietnam veteran came home, he wasn’t welcome home, the country did not care, so I’m glad that time does change things, those in uniform/ veterans need our support and care.
It’s great that people are recognizing what the ladies have been doing. People should appreciate what veterans do more often, especially female veterans.