Ellis Island Medal of Honor
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is an American award founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO)[1] which pays homage to the immigrant experience and the contribution made to America by immigrants and their children. The medals are awarded to native-born and naturalized U.S. citizens.[2][3]
The medals were established at the time of NECO's founding in 1986; a ceremony is held each May on Ellis Island.[4] All branches of the United States Armed Forces traditionally participate. Both the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, and each year’s recipients are read into the Congressional Record.[5] The Great Hall where immigrants were once processed hosts the gala dinner which follows the ceremony. Approximately 100 medalists are honored each year. Past medalists include six Presidents, as well as Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government.[6]
Notable medalists
Notable medalists include:
- Spencer Abraham
- Gary Ackerman
- Noubar Afeyan
- Danny Aiello
- Roger Ailes
- Muhammad Ali
- KV Kumar
- Michael W. Allen
- Goli Ameri
- Cyrus Amir-Mokri
- Ǵorǵija Atanasoski
- Carol Baldwin
- Maria Bartiromo
- Yogi Berra
- Tony Blair (International Award. The first non-US citizen to receive award)
- Michael Bolton
- Matthew Bogdanos
- Ernest Borgnine
- Ian Bremmer
- Dan Burton
- George H.W. Bush
- John J. Cali
- Salvatore Cassano
- Bernadette Castro
- Sam Chang
- Elaine Chao
- Dominic Chianese
- Randolph Chitwood
- Sanjiv Chopra
- Bill Clinton
- Hillary Rodham Clinton
- Jerry Colangelo
- James F Comley
- Rita Cosby
- Bruce DeMars
- Vince DeMentri
- Joe DiMaggio
- Gloria Estefan
- Mia Farrow
- Michael Finnegan
- Joseph Fiorentino
- Renée Fleming
- Gerald Ford
- Valentin Fuster
- Bill Gallo
- Bob Gaudio
- Hossein Gharib
- Salvatore Giunta
- Peter Gruss
- Sudhir K Gupta
- Evander Holyfield
- Bob Hope
- Mike Ilitch
- Roy Innis
- Daniel Inouye
- Quincy Jones
- Henry Kissinger
- Nigel Lythgoe
- Gerda Weissmann Klein
- Stewart F. Lane
- Joseph H. Lemieux
- Jerry Lewis
- Oren Lyons
- Steven George Mandis
- Danny Masterson
- Douglas Walter McCormick
- Bonnie McElveen-Hunter
- Gail J. McGovern
- James E. McGreevey
- Alan B. Miller
- Hamid R. Moghadam
- Angelo R. Mozilo
- John F. Mulholland, Jr.
- Jacques Nasser
- Robert J. Natter
- Younes Nazarian
- Michael Novak
- Denis O'Brien
- Raymond T. Odierno
- John O'Hurley
- Fatih Ozmen
- Lou Papan
- Vanda Pignato[7]
- James Henry Quello
- Charles B. Rangel
- L. Rafael Reif
- Mary Lou Retton
- Doris Roberts
- Peter Romary
- Bruno Sammartino
- Harut Sassounian
- Wido L. Schaefer[8]
- Martin Scorsese
- Rosanna Scotto
- Tamer Seckin
- Jane Seymour (actress)
- Brooke Shields
- Don Shula
- William E. Simon
- Fauja Singh
- Fahim Rahim[9]
- Frank Sinatra
- Alex Spanos
- Dr. Robert F. Spetzler
- Jerry Stiller
- Donald Trump
- Dennis Vacco
- Frankie Valli
- Dionne Warwick
- Chien-Shiung Wu
- Donald E. Washkewicz
- Tim H. Zagat
- Philip Zepter
- Naeem Rahim[10]
Rosa Parks
References
- ^ "Global Hotelier, Abdul Suleman, Awarded 2014 Ellis Island Medal of Honor". BusinessWire. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ^ "Sandra Day O'Connor presented Ellis Island Medal of Honor". PIX 11 TV News. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ^ "7 Armenians to Receive Ellis Island Medal of Honor". Asbarez Post. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ^ Congressional Record, V. 148, PT. 3, March 11, 2002 to April 10, 2002. U S Congress. April 9, 2002. p. 4038.
- ^ "Congressional Record - 111th Congress (2009-2010) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)". Thomas.loc.gov. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
- ^ United States of America Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates (June 22, 1999 ed.). US Government Printing Office. p. 13907. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ^ "The 22nd Annual Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons "Longevity Shapes the Future"" (PDF). United Nations NGO Commiittee on Aging. 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
- ^ "Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)". GPO. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ "Liberty Dialysis Physicians Fahim Rahim and Naeem Rahim to Receive Ellis Island National Medals of Honor for Their Contribution to Achievements in Dialysis and Kidney Care". Reuters. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ "Liberty Dialysis Physicians Fahim Rahim and Naeem Rahim to Receive Ellis Island National Medals of Honor for Their Contribution to Achievements in Dialysis and Kidney Care". Business Wire. Retrieved 19 April 2015.