Fox News’ streaming platform, Fox Nation, is holding its first-ever “Patriot Awards” on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
In an award-style event held in St. Petersburg, Fla., military veterans, first responders and other unsung heroes will be recognized, and some honored with six award categories.
The sold-out event will air exclusively on Fox Nation, and will later broadcast on Fox News Channel on Nov. 24 at 10 p.m. EST.
Aside from recognizing American patriots, Fox will donate ticket sale proceeds to Folds of Honor, a charity that provides scholarships to families of fallen and disabled military service members.
The award categories consist of: Patriot Award for First Responders, Patriot Award for Service to Veterans, Most Valuable Patriot (MVP), Patriot Award for the Unsung Hero, The Most Patriotic Sportsman and the Ultimate Patriot Award.
Fox Nation Patriot Award for First Responders
Travis Maus, a Tampa police officer and U.S. Army pilot, was selected for the First Responders award. Maus is currently on a one-year deployment in Iraq where he is training Iraqi troops to fly Blackhawk, and he’s expected to return in early 2020, Fox 13 reported.
In August, Tampa Police Department Chief Brian Dugan called Maus to announce his promotion to lieutenant, and posted the video on the department’s social media pages.
Fox Nation Patriot Award for Service to Veterans
Maryland-based barbecue restaurant chain Mission BBQ was selected for the Service to Veterans award. The restaurant, which has at least 79 locations, has a multi-directional mission to serve military personnel and veterans inspired by co-founder Bill Kraus’ two Marine Corps sons.
The restaurants’ interior includes a hanging American flag, as well as images and memorabilia from military service members, and plays the National Anthem every day at noon, as Fox 13 reported. The restaurant also makes an effort to hire veterans and donates to military charities.
Fox Nation MVP (Most Valuable Patriot)
Rob Jones, a double amputee Marine Corps veteran, was chosen for the MVP award. Jones made headlines in July for running 31 marathons in 31 days in 2017 to raise money for wounded warrior charities, Newsmax reported. He lost both legs after an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2010, and just two years later, he won a bronze medal in rowing at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
In July, Jones announced his campaign for Congress to represent Virginia’s 10th district.
Fox Nation Patriot Award for the Unsung Hero
Charlie Hecht was selected for the Unsung Hero award after his mission in May 2019 to encourage everyone in his community to fly an American flag, WTKR reported at the time. Hecht, the son of Navy service member Cdr. Dave Hecht, took action upon noticing his neighbors didn’t fly an American flag. He created the “Patriot Project” along with the local Lowes store to secure a discount on American flags if they displayer a flyer that Hecht handed out to them.
Fox Nation Patriot Award for Most Patriot Sportsman
Hockey coach John Krupinsky was selected for the Most Patriot Sportsman award after a viral video showed him delivering a message to his players in support of the National Anthem. Krupinsky, who is also a police sergeant with Danbury Police Department in Connecticut, had warned his players not to kneel in protest of the anthem, later saying, “I take pride in my country,” as Fox News reported.
Fox Nation Patriot Award for Ultimate Patriot
Lt. Col Dan Rooney, an F-16 fighter pilot and founder of the Folds of Honor charity, was selected for the Ultimate Patriot award. Folds of Honor, the recipient of the Patriot Awards’ ticket proceeds, was created after Rooney was returning from his second combat tour in Iraq and witnessed half the plane’s passengers ignore a ceremony to transfer the remains of a fallen soldier.
Fox host Pete Hegseth, an Army combat veteran himself, will emcee the event. Hegseth is the recipient of two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
