Photo:  White House photo by Paul Morse

On May 12, 2006, President George W. Bush presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award to five outstanding individuals during a ceremony marking Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the East Room of the White House. Durai Pandithurai immigrated to the United States from India in 1974. The Salvation Army in New York City provided him with clothes, support, and a job as a bell ringer in the Red Kettle Christmas Campaign. Durai now works as an executive for The Salvation Army and has never forgotten the kindness shown to him when he first arrived in this country.

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