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Presidential Citizens Medal Recipient Juan Andrade
The following is part of President Bill Clinton's speech in presenting Juan Andrade with one of the President's Citizens Medal:
One of the greatest honors I have had as President has been the opportunity to recognize and to honor on behalf of the American people the rich and diverse accomplishments of our fellow citizens. This ceremony marks the last time I will honor such a remarkable group at the White House. And I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity.
More than two centuries ago, our founders staked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor on a revolutionary proposition that people of competing ideas, but common ideals, could form a more perfect union. A democracy built solely on the strength of its citizens.
They felt it essential that America honor both the individual and the idea that a free people can accomplish their greatest work only by doing so together, for a common good. Today, we honor citizens whose individual contributions to the common good embody this ideal in its purest essence. We honor them with the President's Citizens Medal.
Among our nation's highest civilian honors, the Citizens Medal is a symbol of our gratitude as a people for those who have, in particular, performed exemplary deeds of service to others.
Now, let me say a few words about each of those who we honor.
As a civics teacher fresh out of college, Juan Andrade showed up for the first day of class eager to teach his students the fundamentals of American democracy. Two days later, he was under arrest. What was his terrible crime? He was teaching his students in his native tongue, Spanish, which was at the time a violation of Texas law.
That early injustice helped to spark Juan's life-long crusade for Hispanic American civil rights, including the founding of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute and nearly a thousand registration drives that have enfranchised over 1 million new voters. Today, we honor Juan Andrade for his courage, his commitment to both democracy and diversity; and for giving so many more Americans a voice in their own destiny.
CITATION:
As Co-Founder, President, and Executive Director of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, Juan Andrade has been a staunch advocate for Americas Latino community. He has helped register more than a million new Latino voters and has worked to increase Hispanic representation at every level of government. Recognizing the promise of future generations, he has also dedicated himself to helping prepare young Hispanic Americans to become leaders of our Nation.
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Citizens Medal History
