Not attending the awards banquet does absolutely nothing to diminish the bravery and sacrifices that some officers took to earn an award. I've been on 16 years, merit awards, life saving awards, valor awards. Not once have I ever been to an awards banquet. I've always let them send me that stuff in the district mail. (I don't wear any of that crap on my uniform anyway)Not once have I ever felt unrecognized or unappreciated. As a matter-o-fact, if you need to be handed the award by some political