The Spirit Of Charlie Daniels Remains With Us

Country Legend, Charlie Daniels, was not only known for his tremendous talent, but also known to have an enormous heart for U.S. Veterans and their families.

Founded in 2014 by Charlie and longtime manager and friend David Corlew, The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project (TCDJHP), provides resources to help veterans return, rehabilitate, and reintegrate into civilian life.

The Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards Dinner, benefiting the project returned to Nashville's City Winery on September 14th, raising more than $600,000 to fund critical programs for U.S, Veterans, first responders, and their families. This year marked the 11th anniversary of the Patriot Awards, honoring individuals and organizations who embody the nonprofit's mission of service and support.

One of the highlights of the evening featured a historic reunion of Annex Security Team members Kris "Tanto" Paronto, John "Tig" Tiegen and Mark "Oz" Geist - the first tme in 13 years that the three men who fought in the Battle of Benghazi had gathered together.

Family members of fallen heroes also appeared, including Cheryl Woods, mother of Tyrone "Rone" Woods (GRS Operator for Annex Security Team in Benghazi), and Greg Doherty, brother of Glen "Bub" Doherty (GRS Operator in Tripoli, Libya).

The event also acknowledged the Patriot Award presented earlier this year to the Grand Ole Opry, which was honored during a July 8, 2025, concert at the historic venue. The recognition was part of the "Opry 100 Honors" series celebrating the Opry's centennial and underscored the ongoing cultural impact of the award.

"The Patriot Awards are about more than one night - they're about continuing Charlie's mission to fight for the men and women who have fought for us," said David Corlew. "We are honored by the generosity of our supporters and remain committed to ensuring every dollar raised goes directly to programs that provide hope and healing for our veterans."

To learn more about all that the Project does and the lives they impact go to: https://thejourneyhomeproject.org. There are never enough words to thank Charlie Daniels for bringing this to all of us, and making it possbile to help those who have selfishly served our country and more.