By Kiara Catanzaro
News Assignment Editor
Greg K. “Doc” Gibbs, program director of educational leadership, received the George B. Evans Grassroots Veterans’ Advocate of the Year Award. Gibbs attended the National Sons of The American Legion Convention in Houston, Texas where he was honored as a distinguished guest and sole recipient of the award.
“The award has only existed for a few years,” Gibbs said. “Considering that the competition was on a national level, and I was the first recipient to receive the Evans Award from New York, it’s an exciting feeling to have this accomplishment.”
The award is given out annually and is awarded to those who “actively pursuits media outlets, legislators both in his home state and in Washington, D.C. as well as creating a program for the Sons of the American Legion to protect and preserve our veterans and all of their benefits they deserve for their service,” the organization’s website states.
However, Gibbs wasn’t made aware of his award until he arrived at the convention. His nomination came from a member in the Binghamton area.
“The people who host the convention don’t reveal who the recipient is ahead of time,” Gibbs said. “I have attended this specific convention for the last five years, so I didn’t think too much about it when I attended in August. This year, when I was recognized as the honorary guest, was when I discovered that I won the award.”
Gibbs has actively served as legislative chairman for the Sons of the American Legion in New York for the last seven years.
“I specifically received the award for my legislative work,” Gibbs said. “Part of my duties as legislative chairman include writing a monthly column for our statewide newsletter on legislative issues. Also, I plan and organize an annual trip to Washington, D.C. for any members who wish to go to visit their congressman. Aside from that, I prepare a written and oral report at statewide meetings and conventions on legislation and legislative issues.”
Gibbs said that the most rewarding piece of work that he accomplished in order to receive this award was successfully seeing the passage of his proposal, the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a felony to lie about military service.
“This may not sound like much of a big deal to other people, but to those who earned their decorations (Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross) through risking their life, it matters a lot that no one else can claim to be a decorated vet,” Gibbs said.
From his accomplishment and experience, Gibbs said he learned people can make a difference if they simply pursue a passion that they believe in.
“The most rewarding part simply comes in to think that one person can make a difference,” Gibbs said. “One person visiting their congressman and asking him or her to support a bill and having them listen and react is a powerful feeling. Last year there were more than 946,000 bills going through the Senate and the House that contained the words “veteran” or “military.” No congressman can effectively know all about all those resolutions.”
Gibbs said he was more excited to see that he had passionately created an act that would help other veterans in the future.
“It is our job as members of the Sons of The American Legion to get out there and support our veterans and active military,” Gibbs said. “It was rewarding to see that I made a difference this year and those that were with me have that same exact feeling of pride that what we did worked.”
