As part of the world’s most expansive Memorial Day Weekend celebration, Charlotte Motor Speedway will honor USO of North Carolina President John Falkenbury with the coveted Stonewall Jackson Award during an unforgettable Coca-Cola 600 pre-race Salute to the Troops on Sunday, May 29.
“Words cannot express the honor of receiving the award and to be included with such distinguished patriots like Lt. Gen. Tom Sadler and Dale Beatty,” Falkenbury said. “I am proud of the work the USO of North Carolina and our over 750 volunteers and staff do every day to connect our service members with their families, home and the nation. Receiving the award during the Coca-Cola 600, one of the most patriotic venues that showcases our military, and during the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the USO is humbling.”
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Given annually since 1992, the Stonewall Jackson Award recognizes recipients who have demonstrated, by example, the highest standards of patriotism through personal support of the military and/or by personal service to sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty.
Past recipients of the Stonewall Jackson Award include Gen. Gary Luck (USA), Congressman Bill Hefner (NC), Gen. James Livingston (USMC), Gen. Dwayne Dorming (USSOC), the 82nd Airborne Division, Gen. Lloyd Newton (USA), Gen. Peter Pace (USMC), Gen. Buck Herman (USA), Gen. Henry Shelton (USA), Gen. John Handy (USAF), Gen. William B. Tonguy (USSOC), Command Sgt. Major Michael W. Williams (USA), Brigadier Gen. Iwan B. Clontz (NCANG), Col. Walter Joseph Marm (USA), former American Legion Post Commander Dale Punch, Purple Heart Homes co-founder Dale Beatty, Lt. Col. Oliver North (USMC), Maj. Gen. Tom Sadler (USAF) and last year’s recipient, Taya Kyle.
Falkenbury was appointed as President and COO for USO of North Carolina in March 2009. He is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the operations of the state headquarters, five USO fixed centers and a mobile center in the areas in and surrounding Jacksonville, Charlotte, Fayetteville and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.
Falkenbury served for more than 20 years in the U.S. Army, with assignments throughout the United States and in Germany, including Battalion Executive Officer, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Chief of Operations and later Director of Public Affairs, 56th Field Artillery Command, Germany; Director of Public Affairs, U.S. Army War College and Carlisle Barracks at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Falkenbury received a bachelor’s degree in history from the Citadel and earned his master’s degree in management from Webster University, in St. Louis. He is also a distinguished graduate from the Defense Information School and a graduate from both the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Falkenbury, a former North Carolina Healthcare Facilities Association board member, is a licensed North Carolina nursing home administrator.
The United Service Organizations of North Carolina (USO-NC), founded in 1941, is the lead organization charged with supporting military servicemen and women in the state of North Carolina. Eleven percent of U.S. military active duty forces call North Carolina home. With seven major military installations, North Carolina has the fourth largest demographic of active and reserve duty components in the country.
USO-NC is an independent 501C-3 organization chartered by national USO as a self-sustaining separate operating entity. USO-NC is wholly reliant on funding from private grants, donations, corporate gifts and sponsorships, and fundraisers. It receives no direct funding from the national USO or from the government.
With five centers statewide, USO-NC serves an average of 650,000 troops over the course of a year. Three travel-based centers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Raleigh Durham International Airport along with the Fayetteville Airport host an average of 13,075 visitors per month.
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