Hope & Courage Awards

Inspiring hope for their families and others, these honorees represent outstanding examples of selfless acts of service to our nation and its military heroes.

2011 Recipients

Military Honorees

GySgt Matthew Austin, USMC
After his injuries forced an early return from Afghanistan, Austin identified gaps in support needed by wounded service members. Taking his focus away from his own wounds, Austin worked tirelessly to ensure that each returning service member in his unit received the medical and emotional care needed.

SSgt Dale I. Beatty, NCARNG (Ret.)
Beatty is the co-founder of Purple Heart Homes, a nonprofit organization that helps wounded veterans with necessary home modifications. As a double amputee, Beatty is an active advocate for wounded service members from all wars and conflicts. He is also a trustee on the Fisher House Board of Directors.

SSgt Nicholas Bradley, USAF (Ret.)
Bradley defied his doctors' predictions and walked out of the hospital, despite multiple wounds, in two months instead of one year. As a full-time civilian worker on the military base, full-time student and father, Bradley demonstrates hope and courage in every way.

SPC Hugo L. Gonzalez, USA (Ret.)
Legally blind and working through issues of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic epilepsy, Gonzalez demonstrates everyday his thankfulness for all that he have been given. In each conversation, he expresses gratitude for his life, his service and for the love and support of his family.

PO1 Joseph Ruggiero, USCG
Ruggiero made history when a vessel filled with explosives detonated near his boat, making him the first Purple Heart recipient in the Coast Guard since the Vietnam War. His actions to save his shipmates following the attack earned him the Bronze Star with Valor. Although Ruggiero faces ongoing medical operations, he continues to volunteer for deployments and serve with honor and courage.

SCPO Anthony Shattuck, USN
Shots fired via machine gun damaged Shattuck's internal organs during a difficult battle in Afghanistan. After being put in a medically induced coma, he woke up two weeks later at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. In spite of his wounds and ongoing mild traumatic brain injury, Shattuck has returned to his original unit, ready to deploy and serve again.

Family of Wounded or Fallen Honorees

Reneé Ayres
Since her husband returned wounded from Iraq in 2004, Ayres has become a caregiver, advocate, medical specialist, social worker, and now political activist for her husband and for all wounded service members. She now uses her experience to help other spouses and family members. She also works with congressional representatives to address needed changes in medical care.

Christian Haerter and Michelle Severance
Christian's son, LCpl Jordan Haerter, USMC, was killed in Iraq on April 22, 2008. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and hailed by President Obama, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Secretary of the Navy, and others. In Jordan's honor, Christian and his partner Michelle founded Jordan's Initiative, a nonprofit foundation to support deployed service members, combat veterans and their families.

CDR Laurie Lanca, USNR
As a nurse in the Naval Reserves, Lanca has personally cared for many wounded service members at the National Naval Medical Center. Her brother, also a Navy Reservist, was activated for a year-long deployment. Eight months after his return, he died of suicide. Lanca turned her pain into political action as she addressed the need for better mental health care at all VA hospitals.

Kim Ruocco
A suicide survivor (husband died of suicide) and the mother of two young boys, Ruocco has spent the last four years using her personal tragedy to save other people's lives. She is now the Director of Suicide Outreach and Education for TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors).