03/18/2026
Welcome to 2026—a milestone year filled with events celebrating America’s 250th birthday and bringing together our community of service members, veterans, civic leaders, and their families in a spirit of service, camaraderie, and fellowship.
From shooting matches and softball tournaments to golf outings, equestrian events, and more, there are countless ways to get involved and be part of our community. All of these moments build toward a signature evening on Wednesday, December 9th—the 10th Annual Manhattans, Martinis & Mistletoe Veterans Awards Gala (M3).
This year’s Gala promises to be bigger and more impactful than ever—made possible by the unwavering support of partners like you and the dedicated volunteers who contribute hundreds of hours to bring this extraordinary event to life. Over the years, M3 has had the honor of welcoming distinguished veteran leaders, Cabinet officials, Members of Congress, and influential voices from across Washington. Together with our men and women in uniform and supporters like you, we gather for an unforgettable evening dedicated to service, camaraderie, and sacrifice.
M3 is the ultimate holiday event—where sophistication meets purpose. Curated by the American Freedom Fund, M3 2026 stands as Washington’s premier chic holiday gathering and a meaningful opportunity to recognize the impact of veteran organizations and leaders. Once again, the Gala returns to the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel, whose timeless elegance and festive décor create a setting that is both grand and inviting.
Guests will enjoy an elevated and immersive experience, featuring exceptional cuisine, a refined bourbon tasting, handcrafted cocktails, and live music—all set among Washington’s most dynamic and engaged community of leaders and supporters.
At its core, however, M3 serves a simpler purpose: to provide Airmen, Guardians, Sailors, Soldiers, and Marines serving in and around the Nation’s Capital with a place to celebrate the holidays—surrounded by their military family and friends.
Kicking off AFF's calendar this year is a special event in conjunction with our friends at Twilight Polo over in Middleburg, VA. on Saturday, May 23rd. This family friendly event is FREE but there are plenty of Reserve Seating options and Sponsorship opportunities with proceeds going to AFF's programming.
This event will feature Veteran and Active-Duty equestrians representing each of the military branches.
What else is happening in 2026?
Precision Rifle: Our rifle team continues to engage across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, mentoring new veteran marksmen and building camaraderie on and off the range.
Two of our up-and-coming shooters, Zach Gaudette and Rusty Schuerman took home trophies in multiple categories at recent matches.
We look forward to our next fundraising precision rifle match at Farm Out Range in Cheney, Washington, on July 4th, 2026! You can register here!
Softball: AFF is taking the diamond by storm this season, with our travel teams looking forward to several tournaments coming up, kicking off in April with the USSSA Military Dual in Columbus, GA!
The competitive military softball scene rounds out with Military Worlds, October 15th-19th in Georgia.
Round Canopy Parachuting: AFF is proud to be supporting five deserving veterans who are participating in Operation Sandsnake X at the end of this month. This week long experience is life changing for veterans and their families, creating new connections and opportunities for veterans to continue static line parachute jumps all over the world.
Golf: We try to get a group out once a month in the DMV area, whether its supporting other Veteran focused organization or just a chance to work on our game and enjoy the weather.
But stay tuned for the soon-to-be announced dates for our inaugural AFF Golf Tournament in Blanchard, Oklahoma! Details will be coming soon!
There will be more happenings and exciting news to come! Hope to see you out there with us!
