Note: The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. It was first awarded to George Washington in 1776. Since then, it has been presented to about 250 individuals, including Mother Teresa, Jonas Salk, Tony Blair and Rosa Parks.

Today's Recipients of the Medal are:

• Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Eliza Briggs
• Reverend Joseph A. DeLaine
• Mr. Levi Pearson

I am honored to speak at this ceremony. I congratulate the families and thank them for attending.

I also thank Speaker Hastert, Senate President Pro Tempore Stevens and the leadership for inviting the President.

I send his warm regards and sincere regrets that he could not be with us today. But I know he finds these wonderful Americans and their stories as inspirational as I do.

Some of the most fundamental and profound changes in American history happened because one person wanted a very simple thing.

Rosa Parks wanted a seat on the bus after a long, weary day at work.

And the Rev. Joseph A. Delaine, along with Levi Pearson and Harry and Eliza Briggs, wanted a schoolbus to take their children to school in the morning.

In the 1940's, the young African-American children of Clarendon County, South Carolina, had to walk up to ten miles round-trip to their school. So this was certainly not too much to ask.

But some people found this simple request impertinent, radical, even a threat to the republic.

They were wrong. And today, our republic honors the late Rev. DeLaine, Mr. Pearson and Harry and Eliza Briggs for their bravery, steadfastness and uncommon vision.

Their simple request became Briggs vs. Elliott, one of the five lawsuits that together were known as Brown vs. Board of Education.

Years later, the Supreme Court's decision in Brown changed our nation forever.

It opened the schoolhouse door to all American children—and it forced the rest of us to examine and the damage that "separate but equal" had done to our nation, so we could start repairing it.

Some of the worst damage was suffered by these families. Rev. DeLaine and his wife lost their jobs, and their home was burned down.

Levi Pearson, a farmer, was denied credit and watched his crops rot in the field.

Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were fired from their jobs as well, with Harry's boss telling him, "Harry, I want me a boy."

But they stood fast and persevered. And so, therefore, did we all.

Their ordinary request, coupled with extraordinary courage, helped clear a path toward justice. And their legacy can be found today wherever children of different races and ethnicities walk off the schoolbus and into the classroom together.

I, too, attended segregated schools in my youth. I knew the sting of discrimination; the cruel taunt of "separate but equal."

And that is one reason the President and I are so committed to broadening this legacy of justice.

While Brown opened the schoolhouse door to all children, it did not guarantee a quality education for all children.

We want to see students brought up to grade level in reading, writing and mathematics—no matter their race, ethnicity, disability, income level or zip code.

A simple request—and certainly one that is not too much to ask from a great nation.

So, once again, thank you for inspiring a nation to become better than it was then, and better than we are now.

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