It had rained much of the afternoon on the day that the Navy SEAL Foundation’s 2017 Denver Evening of Tribute was being held. And inclement weather literally could have dampened the effect of one of the evening’s most special moments: a jump by the Patriot Parachute Team.
But, like magic, when the big moment arrived, the clouds disappeared, the sun helped turn the heavens a brilliant blue and the five skydivers, all former Navy SEALS, made their colorful descent onto the tarmac outside the XJET terminal at Centennial Airport as AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” played on loudspeakers.
They carried with them a giant American flag.
Chaired by Harvey Allon, chief executive officer of Braddock Financial, and Larry Mizel, chairman of the MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation, the dinner and auction raised $600,000 for the Navy SEAL Foundation’s mission of providing immediate and ongoing support to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.
As the 600 guests assembled inside the terminal for a dinner by Epicurean Catering, the Denver Police Honor Guard presented the colors and Broomfield High School senior Kayla Hruby sang the National Anthem.
And, while a video tribute to the 120-plus Naval Special Warfare personnel who have been killed since 9/11 was projected on a big screen, Rachel Moore played a moving rendition of “Taps” on the piano. Rachel is the granddaughter of Major Thomas Dewey Moore, who was killed in Vietnam 50 years ago this November.
Her parents are Rear Admiral Scott and Molly Moore. He was the on-site commander of the 2009 hostage rescue mission of Capt. Richard Phillips from the Somali pirates.
Former Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers was the master of ceremonies and Capt. John Burnham, a retired Navy SEAL, delivered the keynote address.
“The legacy of our service isn’t so much our personal accomplishments as it is the effect we have on others once we leave,” Burnham said. “We are all links in a chain, standing on the shoulders of those that have gone before us. The Navy SEAL Foundation is the network that helps us grieve and reset and get back on mission. Everyone here tonight is a sign that the foundation’s commitment will endure.”
Another highlight of the evening came when Dave Liniger, the chairman, chief executive officer and co-founder of RE/MAX, accepted the Navy SEAL Foundation’s Fire in the Gut Award, an honor given to those who demonstrate “superior dedication, leadership and perseverance in rising to the top of their profession and accomplishing extraordinary deed.”
“In the military we have a saying, ‘all gave some, some gave all.’ I was one that gave some. I got to know hundreds that gave all,” Liniger said. “Our young men and young women are sacrificing more than any military force in our history. The Navy SEAL Foundation is the backbone of support that the government does not give.”
Liniger also enhanced the live auction that followed by saying that anyone who donated $5,000 to the cause could bring a foursome to Sanctuary, his private, top-rated course in Sedalia, for a round of golf.
The auction also featured a football autographed by Terrell Davis, a former Denver Bronco and 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. The high bidder? The team’s former head coach, Mike Shanahan.
Other guests included Molly and David Coors; Sue Allon; and Keri Mills, the Gold Star spouse of Navy SEAL Stephen M. Mills, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2011.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, partiwriter@hotmail.com and @joannedavidson on Twitter
