Press Release - Annual Medal of Honor Conference
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, SEPT. 16, 2008
CONTACTS:
Craig Bannister, 303.866.6325, craig.bannister@state.co.us
Wil Alston, 303.866.6323, wil.alston@state.co.us
GOV. RITTER OPENS MEDAL OF HONOR OFFICIAL WELCOME LUNCHEON
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Gov. Bill Ritter today welcomed Medal of Honor recipients and their families to Colorado during the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's annual convention at the Sheraton Denver Hotel (formerly the Adam's Mark).
Of the 100 living Medal of Honor recipients, 65 recipients and their families are in Denver for this year¿s weeklong conference. Gov. Ritter is honorary co-chair of the convention's Host Committee along with Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
"The sacrifices you and your families have made for our country is something we shall never forget," Gov. Ritter said. "It's a debt we shall never be able to fully repay. From our own City of Pueblo, which we call Home of Heroes, we have four Medal of Honor recipients, the highest concentration of recipients of any city in the United States. Your service to the security of our nation and establishing our presence around the globe is vitally important, because as we know and as you have shown, freedom isn't free."
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the U.S. armed services. It was created by Congress in 1861 and the medal is bestowed by the President of the United States.
Photo Captions:
Photos 1 & 2 -- Gov. Ritter and First Lady Jeannie Ritter visit Lt. John William Finn, who is 99 years old and the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient. He is a World War II Navy veteran and the last recipient from Pearl Harbor.
Photo 3 -- Gov. Ritter greets two Medal of Honor recipients while thanking them for their service.