Remarks at Reception Honoring Congressman GilmanRichard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of StateCongressman Benjamin A. Gilman Washington, DC November 19, 2002
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Good evening. Come on, gather right around here. Turn around, we're going to have some fun tonight. You can't imagine what a thrill it is for me to be able to invite you or to welcome you here to your Ben Franklin Room on this lovely evening. Moreover, the opportunity to stand in for the Secretary of State who is traveling with the President in Prague on this special occasion is one that I won't forget. But more about that later.
Pat, thank you very much for your kind introduction, but moreover for your hard work and the hard work of the whole ECA Bureau. I think it can be quite tempting in a time of war to focus solely on national security concerns, but ironically, this is precisely the time in which we most need to highlight positive opportunities and remind ourselves and friends and allies in the international community that we continue to have much to offer one another and that for the long-term health of our nations it is fair to say that smart children matter a lot more than smart bombs.
International Education Week serves merely as a reminder of the work Pat and the Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs and so many of you here this evening have done, what so many of you do every day to preserve all of the positive opportunities, and, in particular, to promote international education.
Although we are always grateful for your efforts, this week affords us a special chance to say thank you. And the investment that you all are making in our future is invaluable.
But this year, International Education Week also affords us another important chance to say thank you to an individual who has made a particularly invaluable contribution to the future. One who is a key patriot, as Pat has indicated, of international education -- my friend, our friend, Congressman Benjamin Gilman.
Secretary Powell greatly regrets, Ben, that he can't be here this evening to personally carry this message of thanks to you. But given your own long advocacy of NATO expansion, I suspect you'll forgive the Secretary for being with the President in Prague instead.
But it's my pleasure to be here to represent him tonight, to recognize the achievements of someone I have already described as a close, personal friend, but also someone who is an absolute true national hero.
For certainly Congressman Gilman is a hero to his hometown in the Hudson River Valley for his 30 years of representing them so ably in the House of Representatives, but also to all Americans for his dedication to public service and his devotion to offering the world our greatest national export -- the ideals and the values for which our nation stands.
Now, there has been much talk in recent years about the greatest generation, and most people understand that to mean those who fought in World War II and saved the world from the twin evils of fascism and, laterally, communism. Well, Ben Gilman certainly is part of the greatest generation in that sense. He flew 35 missions over Japan as part of the Army Air Force, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.
But what greatness means to me in this context is also what so many of his generation did when they came home from the Great War. They saw the horror of war and whole continents reduced to wreckage and turned that image of devastation into a lifelong commitment to building a better America. And I would be hard pressed to find a greater member of this generation than Ben Gilman.
After returning from the war, Ben used the GI Bill to get degrees in business and law, a B.A. in Business from Wharton and an L.L.B. from the New York Law School, and then returned the favor by making a career in public service, serving first as Assistant Attorney General in New York State and then for several years as a Member of the New York State Assembly.
But you're most famous, sir, for your tenure in the House of Representatives, where you earned a reputation for fairness, for decency and quiet determination -- and it's not exactly a state secret, Ben, that you've earned the nickname among your friends as Gentle Ben for your absolute sense of decency and the way you have comported yourself on every occasion.
As I noted, Congressman Gilman was well known for advancing the interests of New York State and the Hudson River Valley in particular, but also for protecting the interests of all Americans through his passion for and his expertise in foreign affairs, recognized around the world as a champion of human rights, defender against terrorism, and a defender against the horrors of narcotics trafficking. Ben and I met 22 years ago, or so, when he was championing yet another cause, the cause of our POWs and MIAs who were left behind after our Indochina adventure.
Ben, you were a visionary who pushed not only for important policies such as NATO expansion and a strong relationship with Israel, but also for reform across the government, and indeed, especially for this Department of State. And I would be mighty remiss if I didn't recognize that, Ben, you have hardly accomplished this alone. Throughout your career, you have been assisted and supported by many, many people, and none more so, of course, than your wife, Georgia. And we thank you, Georgia, for being with us tonight.
Adding to all of this considerable achievement, Congressman Gilman also initiated the educational program, which Pat Harrison has mentioned tonight. Having a scholarship named for him may seem too small a tribute for a man with such a huge record, but this program sends a lasting message, Ben, of tolerance and of mutual understanding. It is a legacy that is especially valuable today when we are engaged in a global effort to fight against terrorism.
And I want to emphasize for you all that this nation remains committed to the very vision that you are committed to, Ben Gilman, of a nation that welcomes students, that welcomes immigrants, business people and visitors from around the world, and, in turn, is delighted to share the best our people have to offer the world: our founding values, the fruits of our labor, and the energy and optimism of the American spirit.
So I thank all of you students who have benefited from Gilman Scholarships for being here today, and I think your presence, in a way, is a far more eloquent tribute to Ben Gilman's work than any words that I can offer from this podium tonight.
You gave, or you give, life and meaning to the medal which I am about to present and, indeed, in just a moment, it will be my distinct honor to present Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman the highest award that the Secretary of State can offer, and that is the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Medal.
But before I do, I want to read a note. I have passed this letter to Congressman Gilman a few moments ago. This is from the Secretary of State:
"Dear Ben, only traveling with the President could prevent me from being with you to present this award. Just know, my dear friend that I am there in spirit. This award is the least we could do to thank you for your outstanding support of the dedicated men and women of the Department of State. Please accept it with our admiration and best wishes for all health and success in whatever the future holds for you. Your buddy, Colin."
(Applause.)
Now, in our system, we are not allowed to knight anyone -- (laughter) -- though it would be a nice custom. So I would like to present the award, which is the closest thing we have to knighthood, and then to read the citation accompanying the award.
(Applause.)
And with your permission, I am going to read the citation and then make the presentation. The citation reads:
"In gratitude for your many years of outstanding service in the United States Congress, specifically for your leadership role in the field of foreign affairs and your unwavering dedication to the advancement of US national interests. The Department of State acknowledges your exceptional efforts in support of international exchange programs, particularly the development of the undergraduate exchange program that bears your name, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. We thank you for your outstanding work, your dedication, and your commitment to excellence."
(Presentation of award.)
(Applause.) CONGRESSMAN GILMAN: Deputy Secretary Armitage, Assistant Secretary Harrison, distinguished guests, and friends, thank you for your warm welcome. It is indeed a great pleasure for Georgia and I to be here among so many of our friends many of whom we have known for so long, to receive this special award. We are deeply moved to be so honored by those for whom we have had the utmost admiration and respect. I have had a long career that has provided me with the privilege of great opportunities to travel throughout the world, to meet and establish relationships with international leaders and their representatives, to work on issues that shape our foreign policy and assistance programs, and to support world-wide people-to-people programs. In reflecting on these past 30 years, I recognize that the most enduring influence is achieved through our international exchange programs. Because people-to-people contact--the seeing, the doing and interacting--is how we learn to appreciate our similarities, differences or other ways of doing things. Our exchanges provide forums for new ideas, training opportunities, and the opportunities to build support networks. Professionals, high school students, academics or mid-level government officials all benefit from the experience of interacting with their international counterparts. This is particularly important for the emerging democracies where people are looking for a life-line to secure reforms and freedoms. The rapid globalization presents us with the responsibility to enhance the understanding of emerging market economies, to train journalists in the methodology of a free press, to work with young leaders to strengthen their commitments to the values of democracy and open societies, and to advocate the rule of law and respect for human rights in all societies. Study broad is a special experience for every student who participates. Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but also adds an enriching social and cultural experience. It also provides our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world encouraging them to be a contributor, rather than merely a spectator in the international community. The 45 to 50 different exchange programs now administered by the State Department reflect our national interests and our global obligations to continually improve mutual understanding among the citizens of other countries. To those young people in our audience who participated in any of these exchange programs, I applaud your willingness to leave home, your insight to seek new experiences, and the contribution you make in building bridges between America and other countries. Following the tragedy of 9-11, we have heard the question repeatedly asked, why is there such hatred towards the U.S.? We are a nation that seeks peace, guards those unable to protect themselves, showers aid on distant lands, and sends thousands of our youth to remote parts of the world to help those with dire needs. Advancing freedom is a primary goal of our foreign policy. Yet, our motivations are often misunderstood. I raise this because the dynamics of world politics are no longer determined by foreign policy professionals only. As important as they are, what they think and do is shaped by the people in the world who have access to instantaneous information. That is why public diplomacy--the effort to persuade the people of the world of the truth about our purposes must become a prominent part of our foreign policy. We must raise our sights to recognize the powerful allies we could have among the peoples of the world. Building networks of people is paramount, and the value of those sustainable linkages continually renewed through new programs and broader reaches of participants, must be our top priority. U.S. students participating in study abroad has increased by 45% over the past 4 years. This trend confirms what many college educators have told their pupils: that study abroad provides a uniquely rewarding component to any educational experience. Study abroad students are exposed to exciting new perspectives and develop a greater awareness of international, political, and economic issues. Moreover, their experience can be life-changing by fostering interpersonal relationships and encouraging multicultural understanding. It is gratifying that the international scholarship program which bears my name, has been a rousing success. I am deeply humbled and honored that my colleague, Chris Smith, asked to lend my name to the program when it was signed into law. The Gilman Scholarship, establishes grants to help defray the costs of study abroad for undergraduate students of limited financial means from the United States. Such foreign study prepares our students to assume significant roles in the international community and to compete in the global marketplace. It specifically focuses on those students who might not otherwise study abroad due to their financial constraints and makes this opportunity a reality. I am pleased to report that the program has yielded impressive results. Last year, in our program’s first year, 302 awards were made to students from a pool of 2,771 applicants from 44 states and Puerto Rico. It is gratifying to have been part of the effort to support our international programs, and to advocate for the freedom of people. It is with freedom that we can build the mutual understanding that underpins our standing as the leader of the free world. Thank you again for this special honor, for the contributions each of you make to the cause of peace and freedom throughout the world.
Released on November 19, 2002 |
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