Awards for Americans
Who Participated in Quake Rescue
Washington,
DC: Recognizing the outstanding contribution of Americans
to the relief efforts in the wake of last year's mammoth
earthquake in Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf conferred
Sitara-e-Eisaar and Tamgha-e-Eisaar on individuals and business
companies at an impressive investiture ceremony at the Pakistan
Embassy here.
The recipients of the awards included US defense personnel,
Pakistani Americans, USAID officials, medical professionals,
NGOs, philanthropists, citizens and heads of business companies,
whose efforts made it possible to reach out to the quake-hit
people in Pakistan's worst natural disaster.
Paying tributes to the American men and women, who sacrificed
their comfort for mitigating the sufferings of the quake
survivors, the president said their services and commitment
to duty not only made America proud of them but also left
indelible imprints on the minds of the Pakistani people.
He recalled the widespread devastation caused by the Oct
8 tragedy and said American Chinook helicopters became a
symbol of relief transport in the remote mountainous areas.
These were the people who left their homes to take care
of those left shelterless in the wake of the quake that
left 73,000 people dead, and an equal number injured.
President Musharraf especially praised the American combined
medical response team hospital, and said it looked after
a number of injured people in their hour of distress.
He thanked US President W Bush who galvanized his nation
into reaching out to the quake survivors and helping Pakistan
in its hour of need.
He invited all donors to visit the quake-hit areas next
month to see what Pakistan has done for the survivors with
the financial assistance of the global community. The gathering,
including State Department officials, American citizens
and heads of companies, warmly appreciated President Musahrraf's
acknowledgement of their tireless efforts. Two children
received awards on behalf of the unsung heroes amidst a
prolonged applause.
Those who received the Sitara-e-Eisaar award included: US
Combined Disaster Assistance Center’s (in Pakistan)
Rear Admiral Michael LeFever in his capacity as head of
the center on behalf of the Combined Disaster Assistance
Center in Pakistan; Lisa Chiles, former Mission Director
of USAID Pakistan on behalf of USAID Pakistan; Jef Immelt,
chairman and CEO of the General Electric Company (Appointed
by President Bush to mobilize private sector donations for
earthquake relief); Hank MeKinnell, Jr. former chairman
and CEO of Pfizer, Inc. (appointed by President Bush to
mobilize private sector donations for earthquake relief);
Sandy Weill, chairman of Citigroup, Inc. (appointed by President
Bush to mobilize private sector donations for earthquake
relief); Anne Mulcahy, chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation
(appointed by President Bush to mobilize private sector
donations for earthquake relief); Jim Kelly, former chairman
and CEO of United Parcel Service of America, Inc.; Pakistani-American
community/Pakistani-American organizations and individuals
(the award will be received by a person to be named by the
embassy); and American organizations/individuals (the award
will be received by a person to be identified by the embassy).
The recipients of the Sitara-e-Eisaar award included: Office
of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) on behalf of the OFDA
by William Berger, Regional Adviser based in Nepal; Chinooks
(helicopters that earned the name of Angels of Mercy), to
be received by a nominee of the US Department of Defense);
SEABEES (USA Navy combat troops and construction workers),
to be received by a nominee of US the Department of Defense);
and MASH; Combined Medical Response Team Hospital (Marine
Corps),
Those who received the Sitara-e-Eisaar award included: American
Red Cross - International response fund; International Rescue
Committee; Mercy Corps; Save the Children; Eli Lilly and
Company; Parke Davis; Pepsi Co.; The Coca Cola Company;
Pfizer Inc.; United Parcel Services; Adventist Department
and Relief Agency (ADRA) International; AmeriCares; Brother's
Brother Foundation; CARE USA; Catholic Relief Services;
Doctors Without Borders; Hidaya Foundation; Islamic Relief
USA; and World Vision.
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