Honoring America's Finest: Their Service, Sacrifice, Legacy and Families
- Thursday, May 1, 2025 — 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
- The Gathering at Armature Works – Tampa, FL
We invite you to celebrate Special Operations Warrior Foundation’s 45th anniversary at our fourth annual “Honoring America’s Finest: Their Service, Sacrifice, Legacy, and Families” fundraising dinner. The dinner is to be held on Thursday, May 1st from 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM at The Gathering at Armature Works in Tampa, FL. Our keynote speaker that evening will be Retired Marine Sergeant Kevin Hermening, the youngest hostage taken as prisoner during the Iran hostage crisis.
All proceeds will benefit Special Operations Warrior Foundation – SOWF provides full educations and additional educational opportunities “cradle to career” (preschool through college), for tthe children of fallen Special Operators, deceased SOF spouses, and all Medal of Honor Recipients.
In 1980, at a remote airstrip known as DESERT ONE, a battlefield promise was made to 17 American children. Our founding mission, OPERATION EAGLE CLAW, was a rescue attempt of those 52 American hostages in Iran, which left behind 8 Special Operations Forces.
Five Airmen and three Marines made the ultimate sacrifice, leaving behind 17 children.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, an enduring battlefield promise was made by the surviving service members to provide full education opportunities to the surviving children of those lost in the line of duty, then and in the future. Hence, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation was born.
In celebration of our 45th anniversary, we will honor our past and look forward to our future together.
Program Details
During our 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM cocktail reception, you will have the opportunity to mingle with both current and former Special Operations Personnel as well as special guests.
At 7:00 PM, the dinner program will begin. The evening will include an inspiring story from a SOWF college graduate and features a compelling talk from SOWF leadership.
- Guest Speaker — Former U.S. Marine Corps Guard Sgt. Kevin Hermening, the youngest hostage taken as prisoner during the Iran hostage crisis
Questions?
If you would like to become a sponsor of “Honoring America’s Finest: Their Service, Sacrifice, Legacy, and Families” or have any questions, please reach out to Alex Gordon at alexg@specialops.org or call 813-805-9400.
