The annual deadline for submission of Copper Sword and Copper Eagle Award
nominations is October 31.
COPPER SWORD
The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society (AVHOFS) seeks to recognize an individual Arizona non-veteran whose personal actions contributed significantly to the benefit and well being of our military, our veterans, their families and their survivors, their communities and their neighbors.
Copper was the first metal used to make a sword. The upright unsheathed sword is a symbol of exceptional bravery and leadership. The sword is representational of the warrior and is indicative of that individual who engages to fight for a cause that is greater than that of his/her own self interest. The award consists of a Copper Sword accompanied by an inscription and is presented in a framed, glass covered case.
The AVHOFS seeks to recognize those Arizona individuals who have not worn the uniform of this Nation’s Armed Forces but have done extraordinary things in support of our communities, neighbors and our veterans. Of particular merit are those who have distinguished themselves by exceptional patriotism and support of veterans, the currently serving, their families and their survivors. The service and personal sacrifices of Arizona veterans, military members and their families often go unrecognized and underappreciated by the general civilian populace. We need to ensure that the men and women who have served in uniform or are serving in uniform will always have access to the services, support and recognition they have earned.
Among the unique services and support requirements are education, opportunity and jobs for veterans including veteran friendly veteran-student programs at our universities and colleges, legal assistance and courts that recognize the unique challenges of many combat veterans and job opportunities that address the excessively high unemployment rate of returning veterans. Also included are healthcare and social welfare to include focus on the veteran homeless population and veteran community care. There are also unique characteristics of our veteran/military community that include disabled veterans, women veterans and our extensive population of rural veterans.
Although they may not have actually served in uniform, there are those civilians in our community who truly recognize these issues and take significant steps to help remedy them. It is these individuals that do outstanding service and support that we seek to recognize. The individual recipient cannot have served in the U.S. Military, nor can they presently be holding elected political office or have done so for at least two years. The individual nominee must have been born in Arizona or lived in Arizona for a minimum of five years. Those nominees chosen for selection must attend in person to receive the award. Exceptions to this rule (in person) are at the discretion of the AVHOFS BOD.
Please download and complete this fillable form. The Nomination form, complete with all supporting documentation, may be submitted by standard mail or by Email to the addresses provided on the form.
COPPER EAGLE
The AVHOFS recognition program includes, as a complement to its individual Copper Sword award, a deserving private or public institution, organization or business whose actions warrant high recognition for services rendered to the Arizona veteran or military community. The recipient of this award is honored for singularly outstanding performance, leadership and humane compassion. In that this award is complementary to the Copper Sword award it is an optional award which may or may not be presented annually with no more than two of the awards to be presented in any given year.
Copper is symbolic of the great state of Arizona. The eagle symbolizes the strength and freedom of America and the honorable service of our members to our country. The trophy award consists of a copper colored eagle mounted on a pedestal and accompanied by an inscription and recognizes the necessary, important and significant contributions to the support of our military/veteran community by non-government entities. The criteria for the award are that the recipient be a recognized non-governmental Arizona organization, institution or business that has established a significantly outstanding record of support to our military, our veterans, their families and/or their survivors. Although the service and sacrifices of Arizona veterans and military members can never truly be repaid, we need to ensure that the men and women who have served in uniform or are serving in uniform will always have access to the services and support they have earned.
Among the services and support requirements are education, opportunity and jobs for veterans including veteran friendly veteran-student programs at our universities and colleges, legal assistance and courts that recognize the unique challenges of many combat veterans and job opportunities that address the excessively high unemployment rate of returning veterans. Also included are healthcare and social welfare to include focus on the veteran homeless population and veteran community care. There are also unique characteristics of our veteran/military community that include disabled veterans, women veterans and our extensive population of rural veterans. Whereas national and state governmental organizations bear the bulk of the responsibility for fulfilling these requirements, non-governmental entities will always be needed to fill in the gaps of service and support. It is these entities that do outstanding service and support that we seek to recognize.
The nominee must have been established in the state of Arizona for a minimum of two years. Those nominees chosen for selection must be represented in person to receive the award. Exception to this rule (in person) is at the discretion of the AVHOFS BOD. The nomination and selection process mirrors that of the Copper Sword.
Please download and complete this fillable form. The Nomination form, complete with all supporting documentation, may be submitted by standard mail or by Email to the addresses provided on the form.