Stan ‘the Man’ Musial to be awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom today
Stan Musial, also known as ‘Stan the Man’, will be awarded the country’s second most prestigious award on 15 February, 2011. He is set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White House. It will be none other than President Barack
Obama, who will present him with the award.
The former St. Louis Cardinals’ man was given the Hall of Fame honours in 1969 and now he’s set to receive the country’s highest civilian honour. The Cards have strongly rallied on Stan’s behalf and have played a major role in the proceedings. They wrote
a letter to Obama, explaining Musial’s contributions.
“For us, Stan embodies all that is good about the game of baseball and what it means to be a St. Louis Cardinal. Stan is a role model for players and fans alike, embodying the qualities of good sportsmanship, self-discipline, hard work, consistency, grace,
humility and excellence,” they wrote.
The Cardinals’ campaign took precedence during the last season; social media networking was used to help promote Stan. The slogan for the campaign was, ‘Stand for Stan’. The team even went on to celebrate ‘Stan Day’ on 2 October, 2010.
Musial was part of the country’s Navy unit in World War two. He was given the Cavalier Cross of the Order of Merit in 1999 by Poland for his civil service. Chairman of the Cards, William Dewitt Jr. also wrote to the President of the United States on behalf
of Stan.
“Throughout his life, Stan has never sought recognition for his good works,” said William DeWitt Jr. in a letter to Obama dated 15 March, 2010. “Stan has been a true role model, exemplifying the humility, grace and generosity we so desperately need to see
in our American sports heroes.”
In receiving the honour, Stan will join the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Frank Robinson, Buck O'Neill and Roberto Clemente.
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