O: Say Hey for Willie
Prez honors Mays with Freedom medal
WASHINGTON — President Obama on Tuesday honored 17 Americans with the nation’s highest civilian award — including baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays, who began and ended his Major League career in New York.
“It’s because of giants like Willie that someone like me could even think about running for president,” Obama said at the White House in awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Mays, the Say Hey Kid, who broke into the majors in 1951 and, like other black players of his era endured racism.
Among others honored were Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, who died in September, and the late New York Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the first AfricanAmerican woman elected to Congress and a founding mem ber of what would become the Congressional Black Caucus.
In addition, Brooklyn native and superstar songstress Barbra Streisand was recognized.
“Today we celebrate some extraordinary people: innovators, artists and leaders who contribute to America’s strength as a nation,” Obama said in his introductory remarks.
Among others honored were filmmaker Steven Spielberg, singer/musicians Gloria and Emilio Estefan, singer James Taylor, composer Stephen Sondheim and violinist Itzhak Perlman.
Also recognized was the longestserving woman in the history of Congress, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, who has championed equal pay and women’s health during her 44 years of public service.