To view all the photos from our event, click here
Photos by: Norm Levin, NaturalPortaitsandEvents.com
It was a fabulous early evening celebration with NSAM as we recognized and honored service animal leaders and animal heroes at the inaugural Purple Poppy Awards! At this event, we also celebrated the milestone of receiving Congressional Authorization to build the National Service Animals Memorial in Washington, D.C.!
Event was held at Aaron and Leah Lamstein’s elegant home on the California coast.
September 28, 2023
From Left to Right:
Susan Bahary, Laurie Greenhut, Pam Rice, Kathi Pugh/dog Zola, George Haynes, Dr. Bonita Bergen, Jim Hands, Chelsea White/dog Brooke, Toni Kiser, Christina Ramos, Paige Mazzoni, Colleen Shannon/dog Amador.
Photos by: Norm Levin, NaturalPortaitsandEvents.com
Thank you to our guests, awardees, honorary hosts, volunteers, sponsors, and board of directors.
Congratulations to our Award Winners!
Person of the Year Award—Dr. Bonnie M. Bergin, Founder-Bergin College of Canine Studies, accepted by Dr. Bergin, Berginu.edu
Organization of the Year Award—Canine Companions, accepted by CEO, Paige Mazzoni, Canine.org
Animal of the Year Award—Therapy Dog Ricochet, accepted by George Haynes for Judy Fridono of Pet Prodigies, SurfDogRicochet.com
Hall of Fame Awards:
George Washington and his horses Nelson and Blueskin, accepted by Christina Ramos- Vice Regent California State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, CaliforniaDAR.org
Stubby of WWI, Our country’s first dog of service, accepted by Susan Bahary for the Conroy family, MuseumoftheDog.org, SergeantStubbySalutes
The Seeing Eye®, James Hands CFOO accepted, SeeingEye.org
US Navy Marine Mammal Program, held and displayed by the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego, CA, NiwcPacific.Navy.Mil
GI Joe, WWII Carrier Pigeon, Toni Kiser – Snr. Registrar & Director of Collections Management, The National WWII Museum accepted, NationalWW2Museum.org
Smoky, WWII’s first therapy dog on record and unofficial war dog hero, Toni Kiser accepted for the Wynne family. Award also accepted and held by the American Kennel Club of the Dog, WW2History.org
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Anne Radice + Stephanie Stebich
A special thank you to our gracious hosts Aaron and Leah Lamstein, Anna Williams, our Honorary Hosts; Ellen Finestone, Ann Wathen, Laurie Greenhut, Donna Ewald-Huggins, and Lauren Wilner. Thanks to Javier Perez of Page-Turner Publicity, John Jamieson of American Western Awards, John Wathen, Ken Taub, Aron Taub, Beth Patterson Design, Cindy Kennedy of ArtemisStudios.com, Norm Levin of NaturalPortaitsandEvents.com and the NSAM Board of Directors!
The Memorial
Education Program
Let's Build It!
Endorsements & Collaborations
Friends of NSAM
The Purple Poppy®
Contact Us
5662 Calle Real #105
Goleta, CA 93117
Email: info@NSAMproject.org
Phone: 202-774-1992
NSAM is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.
EIN #27-4620979
