The awards will be presented at the banquet on Friday, November 8 at the Holiday Inn East I-35 (Rock Road & Kellogg).

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for VIP holders, 5 p.m. for all others. Admission One seat $100, Two seats $175 (10 seats per table).
VIP Meet & Greet seats are $150 each, two seats $275. Click here to purchase tickets.

At our annual banquet, we will recognize three veterans from Central Kansas who served their country and are making a difference in our community. We will also recognize one local business that is advocating and providing resources for veterans in our community.

Meet the Keynote Speaker

Major General Lee E. Tafanelli became The Adjutant General, Kansas on January 8, 2011. General Tafanelli oversees the activities of The Adjutant General's Department. This includes providing personnel administration and training guidance for over 7,700 soldiers and airmen in the Kansas Army and Air National Guard. He also serves as Director, Homeland Security (Kansas) and Director, Kansas Emergency Management, where he guides a professional core of personnel that prepare for and respond to disasters. In addition to Traditional Soldiers and Airmen, the department he leads includes about 2,300 full-time State and Federal employees.
Additionally, 105 county emergency managers and their staffs receive guidance and training through the Department.

General Tafanelli was commissioned a Second Lieutenant Engineer Corps on December 17, 1982 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program Pittsburg State University. He has served in a variety of command and staff positions at all levels of the Army National Guard. His experience includes serving in engineer units and brigade and state level staff positions. In January 2002, he was selected to command the 891st Engineer Battalion ultimately leading this battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. General Tafanelli has served in personnel, logistics, finance, mobilization plans, operations, and as battalion and brigade commander. During his career he has served in Kansas Army National Guard units including the 891st Engineer Battalion, 174th Service Support Battalion, 69th Troop Command and in the State Headquarters of the Kansas National Guard.