SUBJ: 2009 SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD - ANNOUNCEMENT AND
GUIDANCE ON NOMINATION PROCEDURES
1. THE WIEGAND FOUNDATION INC., IN COORDINATION WITH
THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE,
MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD, ESTABLISHED THE SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD
MILITARY PROGRAM FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES TO
RECOGNIZE DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE
PATRIOTISM AND SERVICE REFLECT THAT OF MR. BOB HOPE.
2. ELIGIBILITY:
 A. THE SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD IS PRESENTED FOR
OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IT IS AWARDED TO MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES,
ENTERTAINERS, AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS AND ORGANIZATIONS
WHOSE PATRIOTISM AND SERVICE REFLECT THAT OF MR. HOPE. MR. HOPE
WAS DESIGNATED THE FIRST HONORARY VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES
ARMED FORCES FOR HIS DECADES OF ENTERTAINING TROOPS, BOTH IN
PEACETIME AND IN COMBAT ZONES.
 B. THE SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD IS AWARDED TO ANY ACTIVE DUTY,
RESERVE, AUXILIARY, FORMER MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER OR CIVILIAN
WHO EMBODIES THE VALUES OF FREEDOM, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND THE MILITARY. FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, THE AWARDS ARE PART OF THE BONA FIDE, REGULARLY
ESTABLISHED PROGRAM OF RECOGNITION.
 C. THE AWARD IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO ONE RECIPIENT (EITHER AN
INDIVIDUAL OR AN ORGANIZATION) FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: THE
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE ARMY, THE NAVY, THE MARINE
CORPS, THE AIR FORCE AND THE COAST GUARD WHO SATISFIES THE
FOLLOWING CRITERIA: EPITOMIZES THE VALUES OF BOB HOPE (COURAGE,
HONOR, DUTY, COMMITMENT, INTEGRITY AND SELFLESS DEDICATION),
SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES SERVING AROUND THE WORLD, AND SELFLESSLY CONTRIBUTES
AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF TIME, TALENT OR RESOURCES TO BENEFIT
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
3. NOMINATION GUIDELINES: NOMINATIONS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE
RESPECTIVE NOMINATION PANELS NO LATER THAN 30 APRIL AND SHALL
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, AS APPROPRIATE.
 A. NAME OF NOMINEE, NOMINEES ADDRESS, NOMINEES PRESENT POSITION
AND/OR STATUS, NAME AND ADDRESS OF NOMINEES EMPLOYER DURING THE
PERIOD OF SERVICE.
 B. SUMMARY NOT TO EXCEED TWO DOUBLE-SPACED PAGES, AT LEAST 12
PITCH FONT, OF THE ACT OR SERVICE RENDERED, AND HOW IT EPITOMIZED
THE VALUES OF MR. HOPE INCLUDED ON PARAGRAPH 2C.
 C. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION (OPTIONAL).
 D. A PROPOSED CITATION NOT TO EXCEED 90 WORDS THAT PROVIDES
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THE ACT OR SERVICE PERFORMED.
 E. NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE POINT
OF CONTACT FOR THE NOMINATING ORGANIZATION.
 F. FOR FOREIGN NOMINEES, A STATEMENT OF CONCURRENCE BY
THE U.S. CHIEF OF MISSION AND THE U.S. DEFENSE ATTACHE (IF ONE IS
ASSIGNED) TO THE COUNTRY OF THE FOREIGN NOMINEE AND, A
STATEMENT OF CONCURRENCE FROM THE DIA.
 G. SCANNED COPIES OF SIGNED NOMINATION PACKAGES MAY BE SENT BY E-
MAIL TO CARLOS.A.DIAZ(AT)USCG.MIL. ADDRESS NOMINATIONS MAILED VIA
USPS TO MR. CARLOS A.DIAZ, COMDT (CG-09223), U.S. COAST GUARD
HEADQUARTERS, 2100 2ND STREET, SW ROOM 3416, WASHINGTON DC, 20593.
COMMANDS USING THIS METHOD SHOULD ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR
SECURITY SCREENING TO MEET THE 30 APRIL 09 DEADLINE.  EXPRESS MAIL
DELIVERIES ARE PREFERRED AND SHOULD INCLUDE ROOM NUMBER CG-3416.
 H. A SELECTION PANEL WILL REVIEW THE NOMINATIONS AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMANDANT FOR APPROVAL.
4. THE SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED IN AN APPROPRIATE
CEREMONY AND RECEPTION, HOSTED BY THE DESIGNATED AWARD PRESENTATION
AUTHORITY IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION DURING THE FALL OF EACH
CALENDAR YEAR.
5. FUNDING: THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE ARMY, THE
NAVY, THE AIR FORCE, AND THE COAST GUARD WILL FUND TRAVEL AND PER
DIEM COSTS FOR THEIR SELECTED AWARD NOMINEES TO ATTEND THE AWARDS
CEREMONY AND PROVIDE OFFICIAL TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN LODGING
FACILITIES AND THE PLACE OF CEREMONY. THE AWARD PRESENTATION
AUTHORITY WILL FUND THE AWARDS CEREMONY. SERVICES MAY ISSUE
INVITATIONAL TRAVEL ORDERS FOR EITHER A SELECTED NOMINEES SPOUSE OR
ONE IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER TO ATTEND THE AWARDS CEREMONY.
6. QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MR. CARLOS A. DIAZ, COMDT
(CG-09223), AT 202-372-4642 OR CARLOS.A.DIAZ(AT)USCG.MIL.
7. RDML MARY A. LANDRY, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AND
PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.