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WASHINGTON, March 3, 2008-AMVETS National Cmdr. John P. "JP" Brown III presented country music legend
Jerry "Reed" Hubbard with the organization's prestigious Silver Helmet Award this morning at Reed's home in
Nashville. Brown made the special trip to Nashville to present "the Guitar Man" with the award because the
legendary singer and actor can no longer travel. Brown was honored to recognize Reed for his contributions to the
veterans' community."I know it means a lot to Jerry," Brown said. "He served his country and decided to pursue a
career enriching people's lives. But he never forgot where he came from and what it means to support and defend this
nation."Reed, an Army veteran and stanch supporter of the Tennessee veterans' community, was presented the
award for his tireless work with the Murfreesboro Veterans Hospital and his support to last year's National Salute to
Hospitalized Veterans, where he performed his song "The American Veteran." Reed released his first album at age 18,
prior to joining in the Army. He is best known for his Grammy Award-winning song "When You're Hot, You're Hot,"
and has appeared in more than a dozen major motion pictures, including "Smokey and the Bandit," for which he is
also known for the hit single "East Bound and Down."Reed was honored to accept the award. He is considering
moving his Grammy awards aside to make room saying "this is going front and center."

The Silver Helmet Award is an annual award presented by AMVETS that recognizes individuals and organizations
that have gone above and beyond in their service to the veterans' community. Past recipients had to be present at the
awards dinner to receive what has been called "The Veterans' Oscar." However, Brown saw it fitting to make an
exception to the rules to accommodate for Reed's circumstances.

Celebrated singer and accomplished songwriter Jerry Reed took to the 'Boro Friday afternoon
- heading down, loading up and trucking it to the Alvin C. York Veteran Administration Medical
Center.

Reed, best known for his role in the "Smokey and the Bandit" movies and songs such as the highly
popular "East Bound and Down," which is from that series, vows to do all he can to help Middle
Tennessee's veterans.

He is a veteran himself, having served in the army from 1959-1961. Though he is a multi-
awarded songwriter and a member of the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, the man behind such unique hits
as "Amos Moses" and even "U.S. Male," recorded by Elvis Presley, knows this cause is what he wants
to get the word out about. And as he promised, he showed up to the center in an effort to do just that -
despite battling some health issues of his own.

"I want to help you help yourselves," is the message he delivered to the room. "I want (Middle
Tennessee) to be the seed where this starts and grows across the country."

Officially, the event was a CD release of Reed's new work "A Gallant Few." However, it was
really much more than that as Reed expressed his love of veterans and of just "wanting to give
something back."

Two years ago, he said to Rosetta Fisher-Oliver, Volunteer Services manager for Tennessee
Valley Healthcare Systems, that he would write a song for those who've served. He was particularly
bothered by how many singers promise to do this and don't. But he did write a song, and throughout
the many meetings that the veterans at Alvin C. York and Reed have shared over the past two years,
one song compelled him to write another. And that led to a full album.

"They took to him and he took to them," said Fisher-Oliver of the meetings.

Today, he, his family, and others saw what they felt during those meetings come to fruition.
When the main ceremony began, auditorium attendees were witness to a presentation of military service
flags by military branch members, of colors by the Army Color Guard, and a sincere prayer from the
Rev. Dwight Gunter II, Reed's pastor at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene in Nashville.

They also participated in both a recitation of The Pledge of Allegiance and a delivery of "God Bless
America," courtesy of Jackie Smith, NFL Hall-of-Famer.

Other supporters in attendance included Reed's son Randy, who helped with video work for
the day, radio personality Carl P. Mayfield, and WSM-AM radio host, Great American Country-TV
personality and DJ Hall-of-Famer Bill Cody.

The York Center's auditorium was packed full of those wanting to hear what he had to share.
Between the number of veterans gathered together for the event, the official branch flag salutes, and the
giant American flag which stretched behind where Reed was seated, the expansive room was filled with
color. Though, those weren't the only colorful things about the afternoon.

In addition to addressing the serious nature of veteran health care and his passionate concern
for it, Reed remains known for his sense of humor and left room for a few off-color remarks. He may
have had a starring part in the movie "The Waterboy," but he certainly didn't water anything down this
time.

"We're gonna play this CD for you and if you don't like it, you're a communist," he matter-of-
factly said of his labor of love.

That said, Reed was clearly kidding, and continued to urge people to purchase the CD.
Everyone who became part of "The Gallant Few" did so knowing it would be free of charge, and in
fact, Reed told those at the Murfreesboro event, turned down any compensation offered them.

All of the money made from CDs sold will go directly to assist veterans, whom Reed called "veteran
warriors." The Web site www.thegallantfew.com is set to have more information on the project soon.