Thursday, October 02, 2008
Gorbachev Honored with the 2008 Liberty Medal
As volunteers, we attended the Liberty Medal ceremony honoring the Soviet Union's last president, Mikhail Gorbachev, at the National Constitution Center on September 18, 2008. The medal was given for his effort to build a free and democratic Russia. We greeted guests and checked to see if they have tickets.
Former President George H. W. Bush, Chairman of the Constitution Center, presented the Medal to Gorbachev. They are old friends who share an appreciation for good vodka. As leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991, Gorbachev pressed to democratize the Eastern European communist bloc by promoting glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). In 1990, he won the Noble Peace Prize. The next year, after a coup d'etat, he voluntarily resigned. The Soviet Union itself came to an end shortly thereafter.
Gorbachev received a warm welcome from Philadelphia.
Judy Collins opened the program with "Amazing Grace." Pallavi Mahidhara, a fourth-year student at the Curtis Institute of Music, stepped in for Van Cliburn who was not feeling well.
Cliburn appeared later to pay homage to his friend, Gorbachev. The pianist performed at Reagan White House on Gorbachev's first state visit in 1987. Cliburn also stayed over once at Gorbachev's apartment in St. Petersburg.
The program ended with singer Bruce Hornsby - unannounced - and sitting at the piano. Before performing his 1986 trademark, "The Way It Is," he introduced himself, noting that no one else had.
::Shelley
Former President George H. W. Bush, Chairman of the Constitution Center, presented the Medal to Gorbachev. They are old friends who share an appreciation for good vodka. As leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991, Gorbachev pressed to democratize the Eastern European communist bloc by promoting glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). In 1990, he won the Noble Peace Prize. The next year, after a coup d'etat, he voluntarily resigned. The Soviet Union itself came to an end shortly thereafter.
Gorbachev received a warm welcome from Philadelphia.
Judy Collins opened the program with "Amazing Grace." Pallavi Mahidhara, a fourth-year student at the Curtis Institute of Music, stepped in for Van Cliburn who was not feeling well.
Cliburn appeared later to pay homage to his friend, Gorbachev. The pianist performed at Reagan White House on Gorbachev's first state visit in 1987. Cliburn also stayed over once at Gorbachev's apartment in St. Petersburg.
The program ended with singer Bruce Hornsby - unannounced - and sitting at the piano. Before performing his 1986 trademark, "The Way It Is," he introduced himself, noting that no one else had.
::Shelley
Labels: Gorbachev, Liberty Medal, Nationational Constitution Center
