Beirut Veterens of America Honor Bob Jordan

Fort George G. Meade, MD — The Beirut Veterans of America honored their founding president at its 25th Beirut Remembrance banquet held at the Goettge Field House, Camp Lejeune, NC on Oct 23, 2008.
Defense Information School instructor, retired Marine Maj. Robert T. Jordan, received the BVA’s first Founder’s Award, which is named for him, as over 600 BVA members, their families and friends looked on.
The BVA was founded in 1992 by Bob Jordan and several other veterans who survived the horrendous terrorist truck bombing on Sunday, Oct 23, 1083, that killed 241 soldiers, sailors and Marines who were part of the multinational “peacekeeping” force sent to Lebanon in 1982 to assist the struggling Lebanese government to stabilize. The BVA motto: “The First Duty is to Remember” is supported by annual remembrances at various memorials throughout the United States on the anniversary of the bombing.
Jordan turned the leadership of the organization over to others on the 20th Remembrance in 2003. The BVA Board effected the award this year to recognize individuals whose support of the BVA’s mission is notable and enduring. The Board selected Jordan for the first award to recognize his efforts in founding the organization and his continued support as founding president and executive director from 1992 until 2003.
The BVA now is over 1,000 strong and this year its members were part of over 5,000 people who gathered at the Beirut Memorial to recall and honor those who died 25 years ago in what is now recognized as the “first skirmish” in the long war against Islamic fanaticism.

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