Free Speech and Festivities

The Seventh Annual CMR Celebration, attended by more than 125 guests on October 17 in Washington D.C. was more festive than ever—and with good reason.

Honorees for 2000 included The Charlotte and Walter Kohler Charitable Trust, which helped CMR to redesign the website www.cmrlink.org with a generous grant last year. A crystal paperweight engraved with the CMR logo was subsequently sent to Mrs. Mary Kohler and Roberta Childs of the Trust, and to honoree Maj. Gen. Thomas Cole, USA, (Ret), who was also unable to attend. Gen. Cole’s vigilance helped to influence Army policy regarding women in combat in 2002.

Millie Hallow of the National Rifle Association and wife of Washington Times reporter Ralph Hallow, was Mistress of Ceremonies. Elaine Donnelly introduced 2002 Honorees Nancy M. Pfotenhauer and Charmaine Yoest of Independent Women’s Forum, both of whom were especially helpful in persuading the Pentagon to drop the expiring Charter of the old Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. IWF’s support included an invitation for Donnelly to speak at a National Security Panel in 2001, followed by several articles on CMR issues in IWF publications Ex Femina and Women’s Quarterly.

Elaine Donnelly presented a special “CMR Spotlight” award to Rich Lowry, Kathryn Jean Lopez, and Jonah Goldberg, editors of National Review Online, for their effectiveness in putting a bright light on the excesses of the former DACOWITS, which operated as an in-house feminist lobby.

CMR Board member Lt. Gen. Richard G. Trefry, USA (Ret.) led a champagne toast to CMR's Legal Team, Kent Masterson Brown, Frank Northam, Senior Partner Alan P. Dye of Webster, Chaimberlain & Bean and their associate, Chris Shaughnessy of Lexington, KY.  Brown and Northam expressed great satisfaction with the opinion of U. S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth dismissing the harassment lawsuit filed aginat CMR in 1996.  They described Lamberth's opinion as a great victory for the First Amendment, and expressed confidence that it would not be overturned on appeal.

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For information on the events of October 17, see "Issues Briefing Covers Current CMR Topics," also on this website.