Congressional Veteran Commendation

• Veteran must currently reside in the 26th Congressional District of Florida. To verify, please visit www.house.gov and enter the veteran’s ZIP code in the box entitled “Find Your Representative” or call any of the Congressman’s offices. Nominees residing outside the district will not be considered.
• Veteran was active duty in the United States Armed Forces or was a reservist called to active duty.
• Veteran retired from the United States Armed Forces or was honorably discharged.
• Veteran has not previously received the Congressional Veteran Commendation.

• Document

  2024 CVC Nomination Form.pdf  (148.41 KB)
• A 1–2-page letter, addressed to Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, which details why you believe the nominee should receive the Congressional Veteran Commendation. The letter should contain as much information as possible about the veteran’s heroism while in the military and community involvement thereafter.
• A current photo of the veteran.
• A copy of the veteran’s DD-214.
• Copies of photos, military records, news clippings, and other two-dimensional memorabilia that help you tell the story of the veteran’s military and community service. These items are supplemental and are not required. Should you choose to submit them, do not submit originals. Please limit your nomination packet to three 8.5x11” pages of supplemental materials.

2023 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Major William E. Knickerbocker - United States Army, Hialeah
• Sergeant Alvaro Hernandez - United States Army, Hialeah

2022 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Lieutenant Colonel Hector Garcia, Jr. - United States Air Force, Miami Lakes
• Senior Master Sergeant Diane Loescher - United States Air Force, Naples
• Chief Petty Officer Christopher Valdes - United States Coast Guard, Miami Lakes
• Staff Sergeant Gamal Reyes - United States Air Force, Naples
• Corporal Arthur Puch - United States Marine Corps, Naples

2021 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Colonel William G. Perez - United States Marine Corps, Miami Lakes
• Lieutenant Colonel Duilia Mora Turner - United States Air Force, Doral
• Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Barry Walters - United States Marine Corps, Naples
• Captain Robert Francis Merkel - United States Marine Corps, Hialeah
• Sergeant First Class Heriberto Alvarado Hartnack - United States Army, Naples

2020 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Command Sergeant Major Craig A. Layton – United States Army, Naples
• Master Sergeant David Ramos - United States Army, Naples
• Gunnery Sergeant Louis Edward Slagle – United States Marine Corps, Miami
• Sergeant Robert Mickey McGahee – United States Army, Clewiston
• Sergeant Larry S. Borman – United States Army, Miami Lakes
• Sergeant Carla A. Alvarado – United States Army, Doral
• Lance Corporal Alejandro Melorabi – United States Marine Corps, Miami Lakes

2019 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Ford - United States Army, Naples
• Command Sergeant Major James Reginald Burch - United States Army, Naples
• Master Gunnery Sergeant Henry Gonzalez - United States Marine Corps, Doral
• Gunnery Sergeant Kervens Michel - United States Marine Corps, Doral
• Sergeant First Class Osvaldo A. Lopez - United States Army, Doral
• Petty Officer First Class Angel Luis Vazquez - United States Coast Guard, Hialeah
• Staff Sergeant Samuel A. Sam Niego - United States Marine Corps, Doral
• Petty Officer Second Class Brandon G. Roe - United States Navy, Doral
• Sergeant Christina I. Sam Niego - United States Army, Doral
• Sergeant Erick J. Velazquez - United States Marine Corps, Doral
• Sergeant William A. Watts - United States Army, Doral
• Sergeant William C. Hastings - United States Marine Corps, Doral
• Corporal Jessica Lee Dang - United States Army, Naples
• Specialist Jacob Serna - United States Army, Doral
• Corporal Reynaldo Garcia - United States Marine Corps, Miami Lakes
• Corporal Timothy Bruce Daubert - United States Marine Corps, Miami Lakes

2018 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Staff Sergeant Teela Lynn Brewer – United States Marine Corps, Doral
• Staff Sergeant Erica Lauren Florio – United States Air Force, Naples
• Captain John R. Fulmer III – United States Marine Corps, Naples
• Sergeant Fernando Carlos Senra – United States Army, Miami Lakes
• Staff Sergeant Gustavo Adolpho Tovar – United States Army, Doral
• Staff Sergeant Richard Lee Wester – United States Marine Corps & United States Air Force, Miami Lakes

2017 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Sergeant James Bradley Holmes– United States Air Force, Naples
• Specialist 5 Florence N. Holmes – United States Army, Naples

2016 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Sergeant Gary E. Cardenas – United States Army, Hialeah
• Sergeant Miller Couse – United States Army, Clewiston
• Colonel Rogelio Barbaro Figueroa – United States Air Force, Pembroke Pines
• Master Sergeant Joshua Adam Hobson – United States Air Force, Pembroke Pines

2015 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Master Sergeant John A. Cornejo – United States Air Force, Hialeah Gardens
• Commander Douglas J. Fitzgerald – United States Navy, Doral
• Radioman 3rd Class Gilbert Antonio Irizarry – United States Navy, Hialeah
• Captain Crisilda Irizarry-Anson – United States Army, Doral
• Chief Petty Officer Matthew William Kindermann – United States Marine Corps/United States Navy, La Belle

2014 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• Petty Officer Second Class Joseph Randolph Alcala – United States Navy, Miami
• Major Randolph Boyd Cash – United States Army, Naples
• Captain Robert Wayne Dorta – United States Army, Naples
• Sergeant Gregory Moya – United States Marine Corps, Hialeah Gardens
• Sergeant First Class Edward Wilhite – United States Army, Hialeah

2013 Congressional Veteran Commendation Recipients

• First Sergeant Rodolfo J. Alvarez – United States Army, Hialeah
• Command Sergeant Major Michael M. Balch – United States Army, Pembroke Pines
• First Lieutenant James Jackson Hutson, MD – United States Navy, Hialeah
• E-4 Senior Airman Carlos I. Martinez – United States Air Force, Miami Lakes