"We salute innovators who pushed the limits of science, changing how we
see the world - and ourselves. And growing up, Sally Ride read about
the space program in the newspaper almost every day, and she thought
this was “the coolest thing around.” When she was a PhD candidate at
Stanford she saw an ad for astronauts in the student newspaper and she
seized the opportunity. As the first American woman in space, Sally
didn’t just break the stratospheric glass ceiling, she blasted through
it. And when she came back to Earth, she devoted her life to helping
girls excel in fields like math, science and engineering. “Young girls
need to see role models,” she said, “you can’t be what you can’t see.” Today, our daughters - including Malia and Sasha - can set their
sights a little bit higher because Sally Ride showed them the way.
Now, early in the morning the day of the March on Washington, the
National Mall was far from full and some in the press were beginning to
wonder if the event would be a failure. But the march’s chief
organizer, Bayard Rustin, didn’t panic. As the story goes, he looked
down at a piece of paper, looked back up, and reassured reporters that
everything was right on schedule. The only thing those reporters didn’t
know was that the paper he was holding was blank. He
didn’t know how it was going to work out, but Bayard had an unshakable
optimism, nerves of steel, and, most importantly, a faith that if the
cause is just and people are organized, nothing can stand in our way. So, for decades, this great leader, often at Dr. King’s side, was
denied his rightful place in history because he was openly gay. No
medal can change that, but today, we honor Bayard Rustin’s memory by
taking our place in his march towards true equality, no matter who we
are or who we love."
President Barack Obama, November 20, 2013
"Tam O’Shaughnessy accepting on behalf of her life partner, Dr. Sally
K. Ride. Thirty years ago, Dr. Sally K. Ride soared into
space as the youngest American and first woman to wear the Stars and
Stripes above Earth’s atmosphere. As an astronaut, she sought to keep
America at the forefront of space exploration. As a role model, she
fought tirelessly to inspire young people - especially girls - to
become scientifically literate and to pursue careers in science,
technology, engineering, and math. At the end of her life, she became
an inspiration for those battling pancreatic cancer, and for the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. The tale of a quiet
hero, Sally Ride’s story demonstrates that the sky is no limit for those
who dream of reaching for the stars.
Walter Naegle accepting on behalf of his partner, Bayard Rustin. Bayard Rustin was a giant in the American Civil Rights
Movement. Openly gay at a time when many had to hide who they loved,
his unwavering belief that we are all equal members of a “single human
family” took him from his first Freedom Ride to the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender rights movement. Thanks to his unparalleled
skills as an organizer, progress that once seemed impossible appears, in
retrospect, to have been inevitable. Fifty years after the March on
Washington he organized, America honors Bayard Rustin as one of its
greatest architects for social change and a fearless advocate for its
most vulnerable citizens."
Military Aide Lee, November 20, 2013.
Click here to watch the video of the ceremony
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