Then the smiling Obama picture:http://www.thepicturesoftheday.com/index.html?month=AUG&day=12&year=2009&x=14&y=4
ZUMA Press Awesome pic! - U.S. President BARACK OBAMA, gives 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to JOSEPH MEDICINE CROW during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
Medicine Crow, the last living Plains Indian war chief, is the author of seminal works in Native American history and culture. (© Fabiano/Pool/ZUMApress.com)
The nation's highest civilian award - Joe Medicine Crow honored as a role model for all of America
As a warrior and living legend, history flows through Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow – High Bird. Born on a reservation and raised by traditional grandparents, he became the first member of his tribe to earn a master’s degree. For his valiant service in World War II, he was awarded the status of Crow War Chief, and his renowned studies of the First Americans and contributions to cultural and historical preservation have been critical to our understanding of America’s history. Joe Medicine Crow is a symbol of strength and survival, and the United States honors him for his dedication to this country and to all Native Americans.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Remarks by President Obama at the Medal of Freedom ceremony . . .
"Born just a generation past the Battle of the Little Big Horn, a grandson of a scout for General Custer himself, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow was the first member of his tribe to attend college and earn a Master's. Before completing his PhD, he left to serve in World War II. Wearing war paint beneath his uniform, and a sacred feather beneath his helmet, Joseph Medicine Crow completed the four battlefield deeds that made him the last Crow war chief. Historian, educator, and patriot -- a good man, a bacheitche in Crow -- Dr. Medicine Crow's life reflects not only the warrior spirit of the Crow people, but America's highest ideals."
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(BIG SANDY, Mont.) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after President Obama awarded Dr. Joe Medicine Crow of Lodge Grass, Mont., the Presidential Medal of Freedom:
“Joe’s incredible life is chock-full of historic occasions. Today is no different. Montanans will be talking about Joe and the stories of his heroism for generations. He earned the Medal of Freedom a long time ago as an American warrior, as a teacher, as a lifelong student of history and culture, and as a role model for his tribe. Today Joe is honored as a role model for all of America.”
Tester, along with U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, R-Wyo. (ret.), nominated Medicine Crow for the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008.
Medicine Crow became a Crow war chief after performing four ‘war deeds’ fighting Nazis in World War II. He earned a Bronze Star and the prestigious French Legion of Honor. Medicine Crow has earned two honorary doctorates. He is a celebrated author, historian, lecturer and storyteller.
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Images . . .
http://images.google.ca/images?q=joe%20medicine%20crow
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Filmmaker Ken Burns. Burns interviewed Medicine Crow for his acclaimed documentary about World War II.
http://www.pbs.org/thewar/detail_5267.htm
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Thursday, July 30, 2009
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – President Obama will honor Montana’s Joe Medicine Crow with the nation’s highest civilian award, Senator Jon Tester announced today.
Tester and retired U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., nominated Dr. Medicine Crow for the Presidential Medal of Freedom in March of 2008.
Earlier this year, Tester wrote to President Obama to request he give the prestigious award to Medicine Crow. The White House said today that President Obama will give Medicine Crow the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a Washington ceremony scheduled for August 12.
Medicine Crow, 95, is a Crow war chief. He earned a Bronze Star and the prestigious French Legion of Honor for his service in World War II. Medicine Crow has earned two Ph.D.s. He is a celebrated author, historian, lecturer and storyteller.
“Anyone who’s had the honor of meeting Joe knows he’s an American hero,” said Tester, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Joe earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom a long time ago. His lifetime of hard work, his devotion to the Crow Tribe and his dedication to this country will always be remembered.”
Medicine Crow is one of 16 people who will be awarded the Medal of Freedom on August 12. Other recipients will include physicist Stephen Hawking, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, tennis pro Billie Jean King and actor Sidney Poitier.
During a news conference in 2008, Tester and Simpson announced their nomination of Medicine Crow with a slew of letters of support—including letters from Senator Max Baucus, Governor Brian Schweitzer, former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., and filmmaker Ken Burns. Burns interviewed Medicine Crow for his acclaimed documentary about World War II.
”Joe is a one-of-a-kind Montanan, and he certainly deserves this honor,” Baucus said. “Montanans are proud of his accomplishments, and will continue to learn from him for generations to come. This is truly a special event for Joe, the Crow Nation, and for the history of Montana.”
In August of 2008, then-candidate Obama spoke with Medicine Crow during a town hall meeting with veterans in Billings.
The only other Montanans who have earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom were U.S. Senator Mike Mansfield and the late Martha Raye, an actress born in Butte.
Joe Medicine Crow, a receipient of the Bronze Star with valor from the U.S. Army, talks to Barack Obama during his visit with veterans and guests at Riverfront Park in Billings, Montana.
http://videos.billingsgazette.com/p/video?id=2121271
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Senators Tester, Simpson announce Presidential Medal of Freedom nominee
Tester nominates Dr. Joe Medicine Crow for honor
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
(BILLINGS, Mont.) – Retired U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., today joined Senator Jon Tester in Billings to announce Tester's nomination of Dr. Joe Medicine Crow to receive one of the highest honors bestowed by the United States—the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Medicine Crow, 94, is a lifelong resident of Lodge Grass, Mont., who served in the Army during World War II. While in Europe, Medicine Crow accomplished four "war deeds," making him a war chief of the Crow Nation. His war deeds included hand-to-hand combat with an enemy (a German soldier), leading troops into enemy territory and capturing enemy horses (Medicine Crow captured 50 of them from a Nazi camp).
Medicine Crow was recently featured in the acclaimed documentary series The War by filmmaker Ken Burns.
Medicine Crow is an accomplished scholar, teacher, writer and historian. He was the first Crow Indian to earn a Master's Degree, but his PhD research was sidetracked by his World War II service. Medicine Crow has since earned three honorary PhDs and has written several books about Crow history and culture.
"In Montana, we are fortunate to have many present-day reminders of a land and a people of former times," Tester wrote in his nomination letter to President Bush. "Joe is not only one such reminder, but a shining case."
Medicine Crow is a longtime friend of Simpson's. He was instrumental in developing the Plains Indian Museum at the renowned Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyo.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor given by the President of the United States. Although it is a civilian medal, it is often awarded for military heroism. Montana recipients include Senator Mike Mansfield and actress Martha Raye, who was born in Butte.
Tester received numerous letters of support for his nomination of Medicine Crow from leaders around the country. In addition to a letter from Simpson he received letters of support from Sen. Max Baucus, Gov. Brian Schweitzer, filmmaker Ken Burns, Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and retired Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo.
Tester will now send his nomination, including all letters of support, to President Bush. The President is expected to announce recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom later this year.
Tester is a member of the Senate Indian Affairs and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees. Simpson is a former chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
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Joe Medicine Crow
http://www.pbs.org/thewar/detail_5177.htm
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