Unlike the scores of balls, parades and fetes typical of the frenetic day, the tongue-in-cheek event at the club's First Amendment Room was, according to organizer Lou Priebe, geared to "celebrate the absence of Senator Kerry from the Inauguration Day proceedings, most particularly the swearing-in ceremony."

U.S. Army Infantry veteran Priebe added, "These courageous advocacy groups and individuals richly deserve the recognition which they will receive from their many friends who are profoundly grateful for their invaluable service during the 2004 Presidential election.

"These staunch men and women made extremely important contributions in helping tell the truth about Kerry's actual record during and after the Vietnam War and about his lack of fitness to serve as America's commander in chief. We're celebrating the fact that Kerry is not being inaugurated on January 20 and honoring the exemplary people who helped make his absence from the historic day's ceremonies a reality!"

One honoree, John Moore, Webmaster for KerryLied.com, recalled as he accepted his award, "When I first heard Kerry's 1971 speech [about GI "war criminals" in Vietnam], I knew it was time to go to war." Moore also commended the Vietnam vets in attendance for "fighting the war twice."

Another honoree, B.G. Burkett, author of "Stolen Valor," remarked as he was recognized, "In the end, the only band of brothers that mattered was the one that stood up to John Kerry's lies."

Carlton Sherwood, who produced and narrated the POW documentary "Stolen Honor," reminded the audience that "the fight is not over," lambasting the mainline media for continuing in its maligned use of the "evil Vietnam War" to undermine the military.

Sherwood, who gave congratulations to Burkett for being the original founder of the movement that spawned so many spin-offs and who continues to fight lawsuits from the Kerry camp over his controversial documentary, has started a legal defense fund that is entitled The Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation.

Capt. Larry Bailey, USN, Ret., President of the Vietnam Veterans for the Truth and architect of the "Kerry Lied" rally in Washington, detailed to the audience how the movement to stop Kerry began as a trading of e-mails in various chat rooms. Finally, one vet suggested: "Let's get about 100,000 vets together on the mall and show the country that not all vets are for 'Hanoi John.'"

Recognizing the contribution of the honorees, including NewsMax.com's Christopher Ruddy, Bailey said that his main job was to just sit at his computer and "keep the pot stirred."

One of those who got stirred was Paul Schiffer, whose radio show, "The Schiffer Report," focused on Vietnam-related issues in the key state of Ohio throughout the campaign. Schiffer noted that getting the truth out about Kerry giving aid and comfort to the enemy while Americans were still fighting, dying and suffering in communist captivity had "an impact in Ohio," a key swing state that went to Bush and sealed his re-election.

Other honorees included: