Marine General James Mattis Former Sailor and Iconic Singer-Songwriter Bill Withers to Receive the U.S. Navy Memorial’s 2020 Lone Sailor Award
MARINE GENERAL JAMES MATTIS AND FORMER SAILOR AND ICONIC SINGER-SONGWRITER BILL WITHERS TO RECEIVE THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMORIAL’S 2020 LONE SAILOR AWARD
Washington, D.C. July 30, 2020, The United States Navy Memorial will honor General James Mattis, USMC (Ret.), and renowned American singer-songwriter and musician, Bill Withers as the 2020 Lone Sailor Award recipients. With his unfortunate passing in March of this year, Bill’s widow Marcia will accept the award on behalf of Bill Withers.
The Lone Sailor Award is given to Sea Service veterans who have excelled with distinction in their respective careers during or after their service.
Due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Lone Sailor Award ceremony will be a broadcast event that continues the Navy Memorial’s mission to Honor, Recognize, and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present and future and Inform the public about their service.
In addition to recognizing our honorees, the program will feature a segment, “In Their Own Words” in which the invited Sea Service Chiefs, Admiral Michael Gilday, General David Berger, and Admiral Karl Schultz to offer remarks will discuss their views on Sense of Service and the values invoked by the Bill Withers’ song, Lean on Me.
“This will be an emotional production honoring two great Americans who focus on service and our ability to lean on each other during these difficult times,” said retired Rear Admiral Frank Thorp, President and CEO of the Navy Memorial. “We are planning on reaching thousands of viewers.”
General Mattis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve at the age of 18 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps following graduation from Central Washington University in 1971. During his more than four decades in uniform, General Mattis commanded Marines at all levels, from an infantry rifle platoon to a Marine Expeditionary Force. He led an infantry battalion in Iraq in 1991, an expeditionary brigade in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terror attack in 2001, a Marine Division in the initial attack and subsequent stability operations in Iraq in 2003, and led all U.S. Marine Forces in the Middle East as Commander, I Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Marine Forces Central Command. General Mattis served as Secretary of Defense from 2017 to 2019.
William “Bill” Harrison Withers Jr. enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 and served for nine years, during which time he became interested in singing and writing songs. He was a ground-breaking and iconic American singer-songwriter and musician. He recorded several major hits, including "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), "Grandma's Hands" (1971), "Use Me" (1972), "Lean on Me" (1972), "Lovely Day" (1977), and "Just the Two of Us" (1980).
“During these incredibly challenging times for our Nation, I could not think of two better examples of leadership and inspiration than General James Mattis and Mr. Bill Withers. They exemplify the ideals of selfless service and extol the strength and values of a nation united,” Thorp said.
General Mattis and Mrs. Marcia Withers will be honored during the Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor Awards Program broadcast that will be broadcast at 7pm ET on Thursday, September 17th, 2020, through the Memorial’s website