
4 minute read
Medal of Freedom Awarded
Medal of Freedom Awarded to Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, United States Congresswoman for the 18th District of Florida, has been awarded the Grand Lodge Medal of Freedom for the year 2006. The presentation was made by the Grand Master, in the presence of several Grand Lodge officers, in her office on Tuesday, June 6, 2006.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, a six-term member of the House of Representatives, is the first Hispanic woman ever elected to that body. She currently serves as a member of the House Committee on International Relations, the subcommittee on National Security Emerging Threats and International Relations, the subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia, the subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and the House Committee on International Relations.
During her congressional tenure, Congresswoman RosLehtinen has to her credit a number of legislative achievements in which she has sponsored bills which include provisions to promote the cause of freedom throughout the world. In fulfilling her committee duties Staff Report
she has ceaselessly labored to insure that other governments, in return for U.S. support, work toward the granting of greater degrees of freedom for their people.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen is a naturalized American citizen, having been born in Havana, Cuba. Her roots provide her with an appreciation of the true meaning and importance of freedom. Upon receipt of the Grand Lodge Medal of Freedom, she made the following remarks:
“I would like to thank the members of the Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia for selecting me as the recipient of their annual Medal of Freedom. I am delighted to be given this exceptional honor.
“Advancing freedom at home and abroad is an issue of central importance for the Freemasons, and is a cause that resonates strongly with me as well. It is truly a privilege
Congresswoman Ileana Ros Lehtinen accepts freedom certificate and the Medal of Freedom of the Grand Lodge of D.C.
for an organization with such a proven track record in this field to single out my efforts for recognition.
“I regret that I am unable to attend your Universal Brotherhood Celebration gala in person, but would, again, like to extend my sincerest gratitude to the distinguished Freemasons of Washington, D.C. for giving me this award.
“Freemasons today have the weighty task of carrying on the legacy of our founding fathers — many of whom were Masons themselves including: George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin. Through their key tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, the Freemasons remain committed to furthering American ideals and working toward the betterment of society. Integral to such efforts is a passionate belief in freedom.
“As a Cuban exile, I am well aware of the horrors of living under a tyrannical dictator. Inherent in the ideology of such a nation is the arrogant belief that a dictator should be the ultimate decision maker as to the needs of the people, rather than the people themselves.
“Oppressive totalitarian regimes operating under the guises of false ideologies such as Communism and Islamic fundamentalism have led to unfortunate amounts of suffering and hardship. This has not been confined to just citizens of such repressive societies. Rather, these phenomena have bred war and terror that has affected the lives of all the world’s citizens, including those in free societies. “Those of us who live in free societies face a moral duty to promote freedom wherever tyranny presently exists. Such action is within our national security interests, as spreading freedom has the power to create a climate of enhanced global security.
“The overriding belief in the power of freedom to improve the lives of our nation’s citizens played a large part in my desire to seek Congressional office and dedicate my life to public service. In this role, I continue to work tirelessly to advance the cause of freedom, both at home and abroad.”
The biggest challenge facing us today is spreading freedom to regions of the world where the concepts of individual rights, religious tolerance, and democracy have never been given a chance to flourish.
I remain dedicated to enabling liberal institutions to develop in such places. As chair of the International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia, I have taken leadership roles in sponsoring legislation such as the Syrian Accountability Act, the Palestinian Anti-Terror Act, and the Iran Freedom Support Act that all serve to promote peaceful and democratic principles in the Middle East.
I am stand to appear before the Freemasons tonight, a fraternal order that shares this same deep-seeded commitment to freedom.
The Freemasons have been at the forefront of resistance to tyranny, and have worked both within and outside states to promote civic participatory virtues. The Freemasons have played an invaluable role in emphasizing the importance of friendship and brotherly love among the countless members who have formed their ranks. Brotherhood in the Masonry places men in unbreakable bonds with one another, and places them in a unique position to act as engines of change and improvement for society.
I proudly accept the Medal of Freedom that the Freemasons have graciously bestowed upon me, and look forward to fighting the challenging, but ultimately worthwhile, struggle we are all engaged in to spread freedom and democracy to all corners of the globe.