Some of you already know the wonderful honor we received this past Tuesday. For those who don't, we were given the Above and Beyond Citizen Medal by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. This happened in Arlington Cemetery in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns. Thirty four of the 105 living Congressional Medal of Honor recipients were present, along with the Honorable Colin Powell and NBC news anchorman Brian Williams. 

Feelings that day reminded me of the first time I visited Sequoia National Park, and got to walk around those giant stately trees. Those 34 recipients are giants in the incredible bravery they have shown in the line of duty defending our country.

I want to share the brief speech I gave during the ceremony in Arlington:

Thank you, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, for this fantastic award!  About 10 years ago we learned a sad fact:  100 million people in developing countries need wheelchairs. Polio, birth defects, accidents, land mines, disease have robbed them of their mobility. They crawl in the dirt, wait to be carried, or languish in the back room or shed, and often living in darkness.

Wheelchairs in this country are expensive, costing $1000 or more. But these 100 million are the poorest of the poor, with barely enough to keep themselves alive.  So, we developed this durable and functional wheelchair we can make and deliver for $48.35. They are delivered free of charge to the poor.

This country of ours is so blessed. Those in need in developing countries call out to us for mercy.They call out to us for compassion. Thousands of Americans have come to our organization, the Free Wheelchair Mission, to answer that call. They give their time, their talents and their treasure, and together we have provided over 315,000 wheelchairs to date. They are our heroes, they are America’s heroes, and I am pleased to accept this Medal of Honor on their behalf.