RICHMOND, Va. – In a year like no other, the Virginia National Guard Association has refreshed its awards program to include four new awards to reflect the extraordinary leadership during 2020 and 2021. An additional four awards were added following a unanimous vote of the Executive Council Feb. 18, 2021.

Three of the new awards seek to recognize high performing company-grade Officers and Warrant Officers and are honorifically named for former members of the Virginia National Guard that served in an extraordinary manner. The association’s three new performance awards are:

• Chief Warrant Officer 3 Antoinette M. Kunka Award: This award was created in memory of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Antoinette M. Kunka, a Virginia National Guard warrant officer who served as a Supply Systems Warrant Officer for the Directorate of Logistics. This award recognizes the achievements and dedicated service of Virginia Army and Air National Guard junior warrant officers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and professionalism in their services to the Commonwealth of Virginia and community.
• Brig. Gen. Bert W. Holmes Award: This award was created in memory of Brig. Gen. Bert W. Holmes, Jr., a Virginia National Guard officer that served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve and the Virginia National Guard; owned and operated a small medical practice while serving as a surgical expert at a number of hospitals and achieving the rank of Brigadier General in the Virginia National Guard. This award recognizes the achievements and dedicated service of Virginia Army National Guard junior officers in the ranks of 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and Captain who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and professionalism in their service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and community.
• Brig. Gen. William E. Haymes Award: This award was created in memory of Brig. Gen. William E. Haymes. Haymes began his career in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, and was called into Federal service in 1941 where he transferred into the U.S Army Air Corps. Earning his pilot’s wings, Haymes flew combat missions in the P-39 and P-40 fighters throughout the Pacific Theater, being credited with at least one air-to-air victory. He later flew the P-51 during the Korean War from 1952 to 1953 earning a Gold Star from the South Korean Air Force. Haymes returned to Virginia in 1953 and served as the commander of the recently reorganized Virginia Air National Guard. While serving as a rated command pilot, Haymes flew the P-47, B-26 and F-84 aircraft. Haymes was selected as the first Assistant Adjutant General – Air and was the first General Officer of the Virginia Air National Guard. Haymes retired in 1981 after more than 40 years of military service and more than 7,500 hours of flying time. The Brig. Gen. William E. Haymes Award recognizes the achievements and dedicated service of Virginia Air National Guard junior officers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and professionalism in their services to the Commonwealth of Virginia and community.

The fourth new award recognizes local officials, civic leaders and elected representatives for outstanding and exceptional service to the  Virginia National Guard or to the Virginia National Guard Association.  The award is named in memory of Brig. Gen. Edward M. Hudgins, a Virginia National Guard officer that served in a variety of high-profile positions during and following World War 2. Hudgins served as aide-de-camp to Gen. Edward “Ned” Almond and military aide to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He later served as 23rd District Delegate to the General Assembly from 1952-1965.

All Officers and Warrant Officers serving in the Virginia National Guard, regardless of component, are eligible to be nominated for superior performance, acts of heroism or service of a meritorious nature, make a contribution to the goals of the VNGA to the purpose and effectiveness of the Virginia National Guard or to the stability and security of the Commonwealth of Virginia or the United States. The period of consideration is October 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021.

The deadline for nominations for all 2021 VNGA Individual Awards is August 1, 2021. Individuals and commands are notified of selection and awardees are honored during the VNGA annual business meeting and conference held Sep. 21, 2021, at the Marriot Waterside and Convention Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

To nominate online, please click here to begin the nomination process. Please ensure to review the current version of the VNGA Awards Program, which can be downloaded here or viewed online here. Particular attention should be paid to the criteria for each award and the presentation of factual reasons why the individual deserves the award.

Nomination forms may also be downloaded here and electronically submitted to Capt. Jennifer Tedder, the Awards Committee Chair at awards@vnga.us.