Obama awards Presidential Citizens Medal to Roger Kemp, 12 others

[proud2BlibKansan]

There were many horrific murders of young girls here in this city in the last decade. Two stand out in my memory.

Kelsey Smith's dad became a teacher, joined the tea party and ran for state house, where he voted to reduce funding to public schools. He recently announced he is running for state senate. His platform is once again "My daughter was murdered!"

Ali Kemp's dad started a self-defense program for women. Today he was awarded the Presidential Citizen's medal.

Which man has done more to help his community?

WASHINGTON | Recognizing the good deeds of 13 compassionate Americans, President Barack Obama said Thursday that he hopes their work helping the poor, the illiterate, veterans, service members and others will "inspire us to put ourselves in another person's shoes."

For their service, totaling decades in some cases in communities stretching from Alaska to Florida, each of the 13 received the 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal from Obama during a ceremony in the White House East Room. The medal is the nation's second-highest civilian honor.

One woman was honored posthumously for speaking out against domestic abuse in the Indian-American community. Another woman whose story of suffering as her hospitalized partner died alone encouraged Obama to grant full visitation rights to gay couples also was recognized. In the tragic loss of their children, other honorees saw opportunities to help victims of terrorism and mass violence and to teach women how to fight back when attacked.

Roger Kemp of Leawood started a program called TAKE after his daughter, Ali, a 19-year-old college freshman, was killed in 2002. Kemp, who believes his daughter might still be alive if she knew how to defend herself, began The Ali Kemp Defense Education Foundation to train women to fight off attackers. More than 48,000 women have taken his classes, he said after the ceremony.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/20/3219750/obama-awards-presidential-citizens.html#ixzz1bNFaQ6v2