Congressional Veteran Commendation

About the Congressional Veteran Commendation (CVC)

The Congressional Veteran Commendation is a nominations-based program designed to recognize the wartime sacrifices and peacetime community involvement of residents of Florida’s 26th Congressional District. Honorees are exceptional Americans in every way.

The 2025 CVC honorees will be announced and recognized by Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart at a special ceremony in November of this year. They will also be given the opportunity to be interviewed for the Veterans History Project through the Library of Congress, should the veterans choose to do so.

For more information on the Veterans History Project sponsored by the Library of Congress, please click here.

Eligibility Requirements:

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.

Nomination Instructions and Packet

Please send the following items, in one cohesive package, to Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, ATTN: Congressional Veteran Commendation, 8669 NW 36th Street, Suite 100, Doral, Florida 33166 or email to Jennifer.Blanco@mail.house.gov by Monday, October 6th, 2025:

Document
2025-cvc-nomination-form.pdf (199.28 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

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