Silver Star Families Of America Present Commendation Award To General Petraeus

Jan. 27, 2009 - PRLog -- The Silver Star Families of America has announced that General David H. Petraeus is this year’s recipient of the 2009 Commendation Award.

The Commendation Award is the highest honor bestowed by the SSFOA.

Following their mission, the Board of Directors established the Silver Star Families of America Commendation Award.  This award is to be given to an individual or organization that has had an exceptionally positive impact on our wounded and ill by one or more of the following:

1.      Actions that directly impact the care and well being of the wounded and ill;

2.      Actions at a policy level that have improved or provided services to our wounded and ill;

3.      Actions that have increased the benefits provided our wounded and ill;

4.      Actions that have had such a profound impact that they have actually prevented casualties.  

This annual award can be given to military or civilian personnel, departments or organizations who meet the criteria.  

It is the intention of the SSFOA that the highest standards are maintained and only the most qualified is nominated.  The Founders and President will review and select nominees for the recommendation process.

The individual/organizational nominee must receive a substantial number of recommendations or is replaced by another nominee until the required recommendations are achieved.  

The recommendation process was open to the public in an open forum.  All names of those making recommendations are to be public.  

This year’s nominee was General David Petraeus.

General David Howell Petraeus, USA (born November 7, 1952) is the 10th and current Commander, U.S. Central Command. He previously served as Commanding General, Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) from January 26, 2007 to September 15, 2008. As Commander of MNF-I, Petraeus oversaw all coalition forces in Iraq. Petraeus assumed his current assignment on October 31, 2008.


Petraeus was the General George C. Marshall Award winner as the top graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College—class of 1983.[4] He subsequently earned a M.P.A. degree (1985) and a Ph.D. degree (1987) in International Relations from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

He later served as Assistant Professor of International Relations at the U.S. Military Academy and also completed a fellowship at Georgetown University. He has a BS from the U.S. Military Academy—class of 1974—from which he graduated as a distinguished cadet (top 5% of his class).


In its nominating statement the President and the founders stated:  

“It is our opinion that through his decisive leadership, General David Petraeus has prevented a substantial number of not only U.S. and Coalition casualties, but has significantly reduced the number of Iraqi civilian casualties, thus upholding the highest standards of the Silver Star Families of America.”

“We are proud to place into nomination General David Petraeus, Commanding CENTCOM and wish him the best of luck in the nominating process.”

General Petraeus passed the nomination process and was awarded the SSFOA Commendation in a ceremony on Friday 23Jan2009 at CENTCOM.  Those in attendance- Gen. David H. Petraeus, his wife Holly, SSFOA President Janie Orman, SSFOA Exec State Coordinator Georgeine Marbeiter and SSFOA Chaplain Stephanie Orman.  

Contact Information: Steve Newton, Founder of Silver Star Families of America  stevenewton69@hotmail.com

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About Silver Star Families of America: The mission of the Silver Star Families of America is to remember, honor and assist the wounded of our Armed Forces