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The success of our ever-changing world isn’t built solely on the work of our world leaders or politicians, Mary Jean Eisenhower said Friday night as she accepted the 2011 Truman Public Service Award.
“We must all remain committed to public service as our success lies within each of us as we shape a better future,” said Eisenhower, the president and chief executive officer of the Kansas City-based People to People International, which her grandfather Dwight D. Eisenhower founded on Sept. 11, 1956. “Each of us has the capacity for the extraordinary – I’ve seen it in the world over.”
Eisenhower, 55, accepted the city of Independence’s highest honor bestowed on a civilian on the steps of the Truman Library, marking the 127th anniversary of Harry S. Truman’s birth on May 8. It was a full-circle moment in history, she said, given the connection of Truman’s and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s lives, even though the men belonged to two different political parties. Both grew up in the Midwest and came from ordinary, humble upbringings, “yet both were called to do extraordinary things,” she said.
Built with the purpose of enhancing international understanding and friendship, the non-governmental, nonprofit People to People has a presence in 135 countries and includes more than 80,000 families and individuals participating in its initiatives. Forty-five years after her grandfather founded People to People – following the events of Sept. 11, 2001 – Eisenhower focused on gathering young people from across the world to learn about each other and about conflict management. “Peace Camp 2003: An Evolution of Thought and Action” and “The Global Peace Initiative” made Mary Jean’s dream come true.
“As I walk through life, I am increasingly grateful to those who walk alongside me,” she said. “We are all citizens of the world, and we must consider not only others we know in our actions but also others we may never meet. Our human connection has been proven to me time and time again – we make each other better.”
The evening also marked the presentation of the Community Special Recognition Award to Independence native and Democratic state Sen. Victor Callahan. Though Callahan has served in many roles during his more than two decades in politics, Mayor Don Reimal said Callahan will most be remembered “for giving our young people the chance to obtain a better education.”
“Never tell Victor that something is impossible or that it can’t be done – he’ll move mountains to prove that statement wrong,” Reimal said in reference of Callahan’s legislative role toward annexing seven western Independence schools from the Kansas City School District into the Independence School District.
The success of our ever-changing world isn’t built solely on the work of our world leaders or politicians, Mary Jean Eisenhower said Friday night as she accepted the 2011 Truman Public Service Award.
“We must all remain committed to public service as our success lies within each of us as we shape a better future,” said Eisenhower, the president and chief executive officer of the Kansas City-based People to People International, which her grandfather Dwight D. Eisenhower founded on Sept. 11, 1956. “Each of us has the capacity for the extraordinary – I’ve seen it in the world over.”
Eisenhower, 55, accepted the city of Independence’s highest honor bestowed on a civilian on the steps of the Truman Library, marking the 127th anniversary of Harry S. Truman’s birth on May 8. It was a full-circle moment in history, she said, given the connection of Truman’s and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s lives, even though the men belonged to two different political parties. Both grew up in the Midwest and came from ordinary, humble upbringings, “yet both were called to do extraordinary things,” she said.
Built with the purpose of enhancing international understanding and friendship, the non-governmental, nonprofit People to People has a presence in 135 countries and includes more than 80,000 families and individuals participating in its initiatives. Forty-five years after her grandfather founded People to People – following the events of Sept. 11, 2001 – Eisenhower focused on gathering young people from across the world to learn about each other and about conflict management. “Peace Camp 2003: An Evolution of Thought and Action” and “The Global Peace Initiative” made Mary Jean’s dream come true.
“As I walk through life, I am increasingly grateful to those who walk alongside me,” she said. “We are all citizens of the world, and we must consider not only others we know in our actions but also others we may never meet. Our human connection has been proven to me time and time again – we make each other better.”
The evening also marked the presentation of the Community Special Recognition Award to Independence native and Democratic state Sen. Victor Callahan. Though Callahan has served in many roles during his more than two decades in politics, Mayor Don Reimal said Callahan will most be remembered “for giving our young people the chance to obtain a better education.”
“Never tell Victor that something is impossible or that it can’t be done – he’ll move mountains to prove that statement wrong,” Reimal said in reference of Callahan’s legislative role toward annexing seven western Independence schools from the Kansas City School District into the Independence School District.
Reimal described Callahan as possessing “a give ‘em hell attitude” similar to Truman’s, but even with Callahan’s usually somber attitude, he made some jokes Friday night that kept audience members laughing – including jokes about hand-fishing legislation that he was involved in Thursday – before he presented a more serious message.
“Harry S. Truman lived in dangerous and tumultuous times...,” Callahan said. “We live in dangerous and tumultuous times ourselves. In our time, we know war, terrorism, and, at times, doubt who we are as a people and a nation. We might wonder aloud sometimes, ‘What would Harry Truman do?’”
