‘American Valor: A Salute To Our Heroes’ Will Honor US Service Men And Women On Veterans Day
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EXCLUSIVE: Kyle Chandler, Terry Crews, John Cena, Laurence Fishburne, Gary Sinise, Kellie Pickler, Mike Rowe, Ben Foster, Charlie Weber, Allison Janney, and Clint Eastwood are among the stars lined up for American Valor: A Salute to Our Heroes.
The show, which salutes service men and women, will be nationally syndicated to over 100 million households on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox stations nationwide. In addition, it will be broadcast to US troops serving around the world and on Navy ships at sea on American Forces Network. American Valor will be filmed the evening of October 26 in Washington, DC and bow on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11.
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The American Veterans Center’s annual broadcast special in honor of Veterans Day will be hosted by actor/comedian and veteran of the United States Marine Corps Rob Riggle.
The evening will pay tribute to service men and women from World War II to the present day, as the celebrities lend their voices to tell the stories of service and valor. White House Correspondents Kyra Phillips (ABC News) and John Roberts (Fox News) will also participate.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of this amazing event for another year,” said Riggle. “As always, I am looking forward to not only meeting these heroes, but also hearing their compelling stories.” Riggle joined the United States Marine Corps at 19 and rose through the ranks, serving in Albania, Kosovo, Liberia, and Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel Riggle retired from the Marine Corps Reserve, having served 23 years total (9 years active duty, 14 years in the reserves) and earned more than 22 medals and ribbons.
Among the stories American Valor will spotlight:
• The Heroes of D Day– Featuring the men who stormed the beaches and parachuted into Normandy, 75 years ago.
• The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – The only battalion of all-African American women to deploy to Europe during WWII, serving in Britain and France. Represented by all seven known living women of the 6888th.
• Lt. Colonel James H. Harvey III – Tuskegee Airmen pilot, the first African American jet fighter pilot in Korea, and member of the winning team in the first “Top Gun” competition.
• Gene Kranz – Air Force fighter pilot and NASA legend, Chief Flight Director for the Apollo 11 landing 50 years ago, and led the effort to save Apollo 13.
• Colonel Cyril ‘Rick’ Rescorla – (Posthumous) Decorated veteran of the Battle of la Drang in Vietnam; credited with saving 2,700 lives on September 11th, 2001, before being killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center.
• Sergeant Rob Jones – Double-amputee Marine Corps veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan; recovered to become a Paralympian medalist, and run 31 marathons in 31 days.
• A Final Tribute to the Doolittle Raiders – Honoring the last of the 80 Doolittle Raiders, Lt Col. Richard E. Cole, following his passing in 2019.
“We are really looking forward to celebrating this year’s group of honorees,” said Tim Holbert, executive director of the American Veterans Center and producer of American Valor. “Their heroic stories continue to inspire us all, and are a great reminder of the hard work, sacrifice and dedication that all armed service members put forward throughout their lives.”
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