U.S. Navy Memorial to Hold Lone Sailor Awards Program, Honoring Drew Carey and Barry Black
The U.S. Navy Memorial is proud to announce that after a year of shared hardship, the Lone Sailor Awards will once again be held this September to honor Sea Service veterans who have excelled with distinction in their respective careers during or after their service. All are welcome to tune into the live broadcast at LoneSailor2021.com. Each year, the awards are given to those who have drawn upon their past military experience to become successful in their lives and exemplify the core Navy Memorial values of honor, courage, and commitment.
The Lone Sailor Awards have a proud history of recognizing some of the best sea service veterans the U.S. Navy has come to offer. Past honorees include such names as Jack London, Bill Withers, John McCain, George H. W. Bush, and more. The prestigious award has been bestowed in Washington D.C. since 1987, and despite the pandemic, continues with two amazing honorees.
This year’s first honoree is Barry Clayton Black, the 62nd chaplain of the United States Senate. He began serving as Senate Chaplain on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African American and first Seventh-day Adventist to hold the office. The Senate selected its first chaplain in 1789. Barry Black served for over 27 years in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and ending his career as the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy. He retired from the Navy on August 15, 2003.
Commissioned as a Navy chaplain in 1976, Black's first duty station was the Fleet Religious Support Activity in Norfolk, Virginia. Subsequent assignments included Naval Support Activity, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland; First Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan; Naval Training Center, San Diego, California; USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3), Long Beach, California; Naval Chaplains School Advanced Course, Newport, Rhode Island; Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-One, Beaufort, South Carolina; assistant staff chaplain, chief of naval education and training, Pensacola, Florida; and fleet chaplain, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia.
As Rear Admiral, he received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal twice, the Meritorious Service Medal twice, the Navy Commendation Medal twice, the Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and numerous unit awards, campaign, and service medals.
This year’s second honoree is Drew Carey, renowned actor, comedian, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, he gained stardom in his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and as host of the U.S. version of the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, both of which aired on ABC. He then appeared in several films, television series, music videos, a made-for-television film, and a computer game. He has hosted the game show The Price Is Right since August 15, 2007 on CBS.
Drew enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1980 and served until 1986. His Primary MOS was 2531 Field Radio Operator and he last served with 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment. He separated at the rank of Sergeant. Mr. Carey still supports the troops and does overseas touring with the USO.
To learn more about the Lone Sailor Awards and how you can become a sponsor, visit the registration website at LoneSailor2021.com.
The US Navy Memorial is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to Honor, Recognize and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present and future, and to Inform the public about their service.” For more information about the Memorial and its mission, please visit our website at www.navymemorial.org.