The United States Navy Memorial presents a Lone Sailor Award to Sea Service veterans who have excelled with distinction in their respective careers during or after their service. The award recipients will join a list of men and women who have distinguished themselves by drawing upon their military experience to become successful in their subsequent careers and lives, while exemplifying the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. The Lone Sailor Award has been given out each year since the Navy Memorial was dedicated in 1987.
The Lone Sailor Awards Dinner is an annual gala hosted by the Navy Memorial to Honor, Recognize and Celebrate its constituents and award recipients.
The ceremony is held in September of each year at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
The United States Navy Memorial also issues a corresponding award known as the Naval Heritage Award, issued to those who were not veterans of Sea Services, but have done outstanding work to support the Sea Services and displayed the same values of Lone Sailor Award recipients in their lives.