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Ellis Island Medals of Honor

May 15, 2004

Ellis Island, NY, NY

Ellis Island came alive on Saturday, May 15, 2004, with the annual Ellis Island Medals of Honor ceremony, featuring honorees as Joe Piscopo, Ernest Borgnine, Warner Wolf, Sal Marchiano, Leroy Neiman, Michael Flatley, who joined the ranks of Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Former President George Bush, General Colin Powell, Muhammad Ali, Mickey Mantle, and many other great Americans when they were honored with Ellis Island Medals of Honor at the gala ceremony, which was hosted by William Denis (Bill) Fugazy, chairman of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO).

Past recipients of the Ellis Island Medals of Honor include six presidents of the United States, members of Congress, Nobel Prize winners, justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, prominent scientists, business people, entertainers and military heroes.

This past year, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate unanimously passed revolutions sanctioning the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and in October, 2000, the Ellis Island of Honor was carried into space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, aside from the Congressional Medal of Honor, is the only medal that is recognized by both the House of Representatives and by Congress.

This year was also the first year when an International Ellis Island Medal of Honor was awarded. The recipient of this international medal was philanthropist Dr. Michael J. Smurfit, Chairman of the Jefferson Smurfitt Group, which is based in Dublin, Ireland. Mr. Fugazy was quoted as saying “We are extremely proud to award the first ever Ellis Island International Medal of Honor. Dr. Smurfit has enhanced the lives of so many citizens of the US and the world, and remains unceasing in his efforts to reinforce the deep friendship, between the United States and Ireland.

The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, Inc. (NECO), with over five million family members, proudly serves as an umbrella for over 250 organizations that celebrate, educate and nurture ethnic pride, heritage, culture, tradition and religious belief. It is NECO’s firm conviction that the diversity of the American people is what makes this nation great. The Ellis Island Medals Awards Gala’s main purpose is to honor Americans of diverse origins for their outstanding contributions to their own ethnic group, to their ancestral countries and to American society.

This event was fabulous. There were military bands and choirs from different branches of the service, including the 82nd Airborne, which did a beautiful presentation of Lee Greenwood’s famous song “God Bless the U.S.A.”.
There were honorees from many different ethnic background, including Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Asia, and many others, making this one of the most beautiful Ellis Island Medal of Honor celebrations ever. The ceremony was very festive, with lots of colors, as well as ethnic entertainment from different cultures. This wonderful ceremony was followed by a beautiful dinner, at which we took pictures of the different honorees and their families.

We at Liberty News Online would like to thank Mr. Donald Kaplan, of Howard Rubenstein, Associates, Inc. Public Relations, for helping us with setting up interviews and pictures. Anyone interested in learning more about the Ellis Island Medals of Honor or the NECO organization may visit their website, at http://www.neco.org.

Abbey H. Muneer is the Executive Director of H.A.D. Organization of New York City, Inc., a world-famous athlete, author and, above all, a humanitarian. Abbey will write articles about charity events, benefits, fundraisers and galas which are raising money for humantiarian causes. If you are interested in having Abbey and one his staff members cover one of your charity events, benefits, fundraisers or galas, feel free to notify us one week in advance, at LNEvents@hadofnyc.org, or telephone us at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. and ask to speak to Abbey or Maria. If you would like more information, or would like to have Liberty News Online Magazine consult your next charitable event, please feel free to visit our website, at http://www.hadofnyc.org/store/success.html, email us at humanitarians@hadofnyc.org, or telephone our hotline, at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. (U.S.A.)