Big & Rich will receive the Vietnam Veterans of America's President's Award for Excellence in the Arts on Wednesday (July 18) during the opening ceremonies of the organization's convention in Springfield, Ill. The award recognizes the duo's 2006 single, "8th of November," inspired by a battle U.S. troops fought in Vietnam in 1965. Niles Harris, a Purple Heart recipient who inspired the song, will attend the presentation. Previous recipients of the award include Kris Kristofferson, Bob Hope, George Jones and Raquel Welch.