President Awards Presidential Citizens Medal to Patriots

December 10, 2008 By CJ
Posted in Life in the Military, Military News

The Presidential Citizens Medal was established in November 13, 1969, to recognize U.S. citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation. It is one of the highest honors the President can confer upon a civilian, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Today, the President presented twenty-three individuals with the Presidential Citizens Medal and one award posthumously. I haven’t seen this anywhere in the media, so I wanted to highlight a few of the heroes that were honored.

General Wayne A. Downing, USA (Ret.) – General Downing graduated from Westpoint in 1962 and shipped to Vietnam in December 1964. After the attacks of September 11th, he became the National Director and Deputy National Security Adviser for combating terrorism. His awards and decorations include two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, two Army Distinguished Service Medals, two Silver Stars, four Legions of Merit, the Soldier’s Medal, seven Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal, and four Army Commendation Medals. General Downing also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Pathfinder Badge.

General Downing was an American hero who stepped forward to help defend our Nation and uphold the ideals of our founding. He answered history’s call with honor, decency, and resolve, and he earned the respect and admiration of a grateful Nation. The United States honors Wayne Downing for his selfless service that continues to inspire us as we work to advance peace and extend freedom around the world. Mr. Downing passed away in July 2007.

Arnold Fisher – By devoting his time and talents to his fellow veterans, Arnold Fisher has helped America fulfill its obligations to those who have defended our freedom. He joined the Army in 1953 and served 18 months in Korea. After an Honorable Discharge in 1954, he began his career in the family business.

He is active in many philanthropic causes, especially the Veterans Bedside Network and the development of the Vietnam Memorial in Westchester County. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hall of Honor (Home of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society abroad the U.S.S. Intrepid moored in New York Harbor.) He is currently a member of the Board for the New York Chapter of the USO. The Fisher family also runs the Fisher House Foundation, which provides lodging to help the loved ones of injured military personnel stay nearby while the servicemember recovers.

In 2006, Arnold Fisher established the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which provides funds to the families of servicemen and women who have given their lives fighting the War on Terror. This is cause I have raised over $4000 for through They Have Names. All money collected through the site above and beyond operating costs go to the Fund.

That’s in the noble tradition of the Fisher Armed Services Foundation, which has given millions to the survivors of soldiers who fell to hostile fire, including the families of the 241 Marines killed in Beirut in 1983 by Hezbollah terrorists.

His compassion and dedication to our military families reflect the best of the American spirit. The United States honors Arnold Fisher for his service to our country’s veterans and their families and for demonstrating the generous and grateful heart of America.

Admiral James D. Watkins, USN (Ret.) – As a decorated military leader and innovative public servant, Admiral James Watkins exemplifies the American ideals of courage, character, and ingenuity. He has received the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two gold award stars, Bronze Star with Combat V device, China Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, and has been decorated and honored by several other nations including receiving the United Nations Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and decorations from Brazil, Korea, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Pakistan and Sweden.

He has brought great skill and determination to all of his duties and demonstrated a patriot’s devotion to our country. The United States honors James Watkins for his distinguished and varied public service.

Gary Sinise – Gary Sinise is a humanitarian and a patriot. Working alongside our military and reaching out a compassionate hand to Iraqi children, he is helping a society once brutalized by a tyrant to rebuild and realize the great blessings of liberty. He has also traveled the world to show America’s gratitude to our service members.

Mr. Sinise co-founded Operation Iraqi Children in 2004 to give concerned Americans a way to reach out to war-stricken Iraqi children and support American troops in their efforts to assist them. Since its inception, OIC has delivered to Iraq over 200,000 school supply kits, along with more than half a million toys and thousands of Arabic-language books, shoes, blankets, backpacks and sets of sports equipment, all of which have been distributed to Iraqi children by our troops.

He has gone out of his way to tell the American military member’s story by visiting the combat zone on multiple occasions to boost morale and talk to the troops one on one. He can be seen often visiting wounded troops at Walter Reed and other military hospitals. The United States honors Gary Sinise for his efforts to improve the human condition and his strong commitment to the selfless men and women who devote their lives to military service.

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