Award presentation
At this year’s American Heroes Dinner, hosted by the Honoring the Sacrifice Foundation, Board Member Todd Smith presented this year’s American Patriot Award to Chattanoogans Bruce and Pia MacDonald. The American Patriot Award is the Foundation’s highest honor, recognizing individuals who embody service, sacrifice, and patriotism in extraordinary ways.
Bruce MacDonald, a retired U.S. Army first sergeant, served with distinction for 30 years. His military career began with 10 years in Military Intelligence as a Russian linguist, followed by work in telecommunications, and culminated as an Army recruiter. Bruce and his wife Pia have been married for nearly 44 years, raising a family of 12 children - no twins - eight of whom have either served or are currently serving in the U.S. Army.
However, the MacDonalds’ story of service extends far beyond the military. Just 34 days after Bruce’s retirement in 2005, the couple embarked on a new mission as missionaries to the Lugansk region of eastern Ukraine. For nine years, they shared the gospel of Jesus and ministered to the people of the region until the escalating conflict forced their evacuation. Back in Chattanooga, their commitment to Ukraine remained steadfast by raising humanitarian aid and helping with refugee resettlement.
Their connection to Honoring the Sacrifice Foundation (HTS) began in 2019 when Bruce volunteered at the annual HTS Golf Classic, sitting quietly monitoring a hole-in-one contest. That moment led to deeper involvement, and during the pandemic, Bruce’s newfound love of disc golf sparked an idea. He launched a Professional Disc Golf Association-sanctioned charity tournament benefiting HTS. Now in its fifth year, the event has raised nearly $30,000 for severely wounded post-9/11 veterans and their families.
“Bruce and Pia exemplify everything this award stands for,” said HTS board member Smith. “Their service - in uniform, as missionaries, and as tireless advocates for veterans - is humbling. They don’t just talk about sacrifice; they have lived it.”
The American Heroes Dinner is an annual highlight in Chattanooga, bringing together military families, veterans, and community leaders to honor those who have given so much. The evening also serves as a major fundraiser for Honoring the Sacrifice, which provides direct support to meet the unique needs of post-9/11 veterans with life-altering injuries.
Accepting the award, Bruce reflected on the importance of faith, family, and giving back. “We’re deeply honored,” Bruce said. “Our purpose is to help this organization assist catastrophically wounded veterans, but we run our tournament over Veterans’ Day and it is important to honor the service and sacrifice of all veterans – and, we cannot forget the sacrifices made by their families—most especially the wives and mothers.”
To learn more about Honoring the Sacrifice or to support its mission, visit www.honoringthesacrifice.org.