St. Norbert College Scholarship Recipient studies in England

Adam DeCleene of DePere, Wisconsin will graduate from St. Norbert College in 2011. He is one of 4 students who received our St. Norbert College scholarship. Adam is currently in England where he is studying at Lancaster University. He sent this photo of his travels to Rome along with the thoughtful thank you below.

Thanks for the update Adam!

Remembering Not Only a Hero, but a Great Man--Len Keller

Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient, Leonard "Len" Keller, 62 was laid to rest November 30th in Arlington Cemetery, over a month after he was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Brian's Foundation had announced in 2008 and was in the process of completing the endowment drive for the Len Keller Scholarship of Honor at Guilford High School in Rockford, IL. Len was going to present the first award.

Len was killed only minutes after being honored at the U.S. Navy Fleet Reserve Association in Pensacola, Florida. He was a two-tour Army veteran and recently retired after a 28-year career as a civilian in the supply unit at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

Sergeant Keller was cited for heroic action in May, 1967 when his unit was assaulted by superior enemy forces near Ap Bac, South Vietnam.

Photo by: Nick DelCalzo

Saying goodbye to an American Hero at Arlington-Doug LaViolette


"What humbled me the most on that rainy Monday was after everyone left Len's Memorial service. I had the privilege to privately say goodbye. Here in front of me, was a bigger than life American hero, being laid to rest in these hollowed grounds at Arlington in the basic military issued casket...nothing fancy. But then there was nothing Len would have liked more than to be treated like every other soldier he ever served with. I can guarantee he did so with respect and his soldiers respected him.

We promised Len we would honor him perpetually with the Leonard Keller Scholarship of Honor at Guilford High School in Rockford, Illinois...we will keep that promise. We will miss Len presenting the first scholarship this coming May, but we will never forget..."

-Doug LaViolette-U.S. Army Sgt 1968-70.

Photo was taken by Doug at the beginning of Len's funeral procession overlooking the Pentagon.

Save the Date for 11.11.11

We pull through challenging times by pulling together. That is the foundation of this great country and we’d like to invite you to join us on 11.11.11 for a historic occasion as we celebrate “What’s Right With America.” We will salute the extraordinary people who believe that “The Journey is the Reward.”

We can’t think of a better way to honor Brian’s memory than to recognize those who follow in his footsteps and continue to make a difference. The evening will feature several guests of honor and special entertainment.

The Brian LaViolette Foundation thinks it is only fitting that we take an evening to celebrate those who make this country great!

A Journey without Borders-Poland Scholarships presented October 31, 2009

Brian's Foundation teamed up with the Nidzica Community Foundation in Nidzica, Poland in 2003 and now awards seven scholarships annually.

Thanks to sponsors: Bob Nueske Family, Casey Cuene Family, Dr. Michael Smullen Family, the Weyers Family Foundation and the Brian LaViolette Foundation, seven students receive a life changing scholarship.

Pictured here are: Halina Pyszko (a member of the Board of the Nidzica Community Foundation), Andrzej Zawieska, Renata Bruzdziak, Aneta Rudzinska, Szymon Kowalski, Marta Jablonowska, Alicja Suberlak, Tadeusz Miecznikowski (the President of the Co-operative Bank in Nidzica, member of the Board of the Nidzica Community Foundation), Barbara Margol (The President of the Nidzica CF ). Sylwia Lubian and Renata Adaszynska could not attend the ceremony.

Medal of Honor Recipient who attended 2007 Green Bay Convention was killed on Sunday

We just found out this sad, tragic news about our dear friend, Len Keller. This is sad for so many reasons as we had announced and were in the process of completing the endowment drive for the Len Keller Scholarship of Honor at Guilford High School in Rockford, IL. Len was going to present the first award. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. If you would like to donate to the Len Keller Scholarship of Honor, please sent donation to:

Len Keller Scholarship of Honor
1135 Pleasant Valley Dr.
Oneida, WI 54155

Len is shown here with his granddaughter, Angela during the 2007 Medal of Honor Convention

Photo: Nick DelCalzo

Local Medal of Honor recipient dies at 62
Len Keller killed on Sunday in motorcycle accident
Louis Cooper • lcooper@pnj.com • October 20, 2009

A Milton resident who was a Medal of Honor recipient died Sunday in a motorcycle crash as he was leaving a veterans club. Leonard "Len" Keller, 62, died at Sacred Heart Hospital after the accident outside the Fleet Reserve Association in Milton. Keller served for two years in Vietnam, then worked for 28 more as a civilian in the supply department at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

Capt. Bill Reavey, commanding officer of Pensacola NAS, called Keller's death "a national loss."
"Len was a very humble guy. What he did was just amazing," said Reavey, who spoke at Keller's retirement party in December."If you met him and then you read his citation, you'd never know it was him. What he did was super human. He saved numerous lives that day."

Keller served as an Army sergeant in Vietnam. President Lyndon Johnson presented him with the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony in 1968.The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military honor. It is presented by Congress for risk of life in combat beyond the call of duty.

Keller received the medal in recognition of "conspicuous gallantry" as he and another soldier came under fire from the Viet Cong in a number of enemy bunkers and in nearby trees. "Sgt. Keller quickly moved to a position where he could fire at a bunker from which automatic fire was received, killing one Viet Cong who attempted to escape," according to the citation.

"Leaping to the top of a dike, he and a comrade charged the enemy bunkers, dangerously exposing themselves to the enemy fire," according to the citation. He then charged a second bunker, killing its occupant, and five more bunkers, killing the enemies in them.

"During their furious assault, Sgt. Keller and his comrade had been almost continuously exposed to intense sniper fire as the enemy desperately sought to stop their attack," the citation reads. After his ammunition was exhausted, Keller returned to his platoon to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. "His acts are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army,'' the citation states.

Upon retirement, Keller placed his actions firmly in the midst of those performed by his fellow soldiers. "I'm not any different than any of the other people who were there," he said in an interview. "I just received a medal. A lot of guys out there deserved medals too, they just didn't make it."

Sunday's crash occurred at 3:18 p.m. as Keller was leaving the fleet center on his Harley Davidson three-wheeled motorcycle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Keller made a sharp left and "was traveling too fast for the turn and left the paved surface of the road," the Highway Patrol reported. The motorcycle overturned several times and came to final rest on top of Keller. He was not wearing a helmet