News : National honors for Gualtier: Invited to attend Jefferson Award event in DC

John Gualtier's 'Nine Who Care' Award.

John Gualtier holds the '9 Who Care' plaque containing the medallion he received Saturday evening.

John Gualtier holds the '9 Who Care' plaque containing the medallion he received Saturday evening.

John Gualtier sat in the home of his friends, Dale and Jeanette Henry, on Sunday, reading the tiny signatures engraved in the back of his Jefferson medallion.

Gualtier will spend a lot of time learning about those names, as well as the Jefferson Award, as he prepares for his trip to Washington, D.C., this summer.

He earned that trip Saturday when KCRG-TV chose him from among the nine "9 Who Care" honorees to represent eastern Iowa in the national awards event.

Gualtier, accompanied by his wife, Jill, VFW Commander Dale Henry and his wife, Jeanette, VFW member Ron Geiger, VGH Foundation Director Mike Timmermans and Vinton-Shellsburg High School teacher Kelly Steffen, received the award at the Cedar Rapids Country Club Saturday evening. First he was honored with the other eight members of this year's "9 Who Care." Then he was named as the nominee for the national award.

The Jefferson Awards event takes place in June, although the exact date has not been announced. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Samuel Beard and Senator Robert Taft helped organize the organization. It is their signatures that are engraved on the back of the medallion presented to Gualtier.

Gualtier said he was both honored and surprised by the recognition. He said the other "9 Who Care" honorees are very impressive people who have done a lot to help others.

Each honoree is asked to chose a charity to receive a $500 donation in their honor; Gualtier chose the VGH Foundation. Timmermans accepted the donation during Saturday's event, which also included a video tribute to Gualtier for his efforts to help other veterans as well as his time in area classrooms, sharing his stories about how being a WWII medic has affected his life.

Steffen, who first urged Gualtier to speak to her students several years ago, nominated him for the award.

KCRG will air its "9 Who Care" feature at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb 18.

Learn more about the Jefferson Awards HERE.