By Peter Healy
Staff Writer
Article Launched: 05/23/2008 01:00:00 AM EDT

Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment has garnered the first Corporate Patriot Award last week from the GI Film Festival for its record of entertaining U.S. troops.

WWE said it was given the award for its ongoing support and appreciation of the U.S. military and their families, particularly its annual holiday "Tribute to the Troops" tour in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"WWE is honored to have received the Corporate Patriot Award. We take great pride in supporting the members of our U.S. military and their families," company spokesman Gary Davis said.

Dennis McAlpine, an analyst who tracks WWE for McAlpine Associates of Pawleys Island, S.C., said the award can offset negative publicity after last year's death of wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and son.

"They will get a lot of mileage just by going there," McAlpine said of the film festival. "The award is not a bad thing to have in their back pocket when they need it."

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who has performed in Iraq with WWE, accepted the award May 16 in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the company.

During the past five years, WWE stars have visited more than 200 military installations, bases and hospitals, the company said.

Since 2003, WWE has worked with Armed Forces Entertainment to produce WWE's annual "Tribute to the Troops" holiday program.

WWE and Armed Forces Entertainment celebrated the fifth anniversary of the tour last year, visiting 20 bases culminating in a performance at Camp Speicher in Iraq that was televised on USA Network.

The Corporate Patriot Award is not the first military-related accolade for the WWE.

In 2004, the United Service Organization of Metropolitan Washington presented WWE with the first "Legacy of Hope" award for the company's extensive support of U.S. troops and the USO's Operation Care Package program.

In 2005, the Army Air Force Exchange Service awarded WWE the first Three Commander Coin Award for WWE's support of its partnership with the organization to improve the quality of life for U.S. troops.

In 2006, WWE and Chairman Vince McMahon each received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award in support of deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The GI Film Festival is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the U.S. military through film.


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