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The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award®
The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award® - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
The
Profile in Courage Award is a private award given to recognize displays of courage similar to those
John F. Kennedy described in his book
Profiles in Courage. It is given to individuals (often elected officials) who, by acting in accord with their
conscience, risked their careers or lives by pursuing a larger vision of the national, state or local interest in opposition to
popular opinion or pressure from constituents or other local interests.
The winners of the award are selected by a bi-partisan committee named by the
John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, which includes members of the
Kennedy family and other prominent Americans. It is generally awarded each year around the time of Kennedy's birthday (May 29) at a ceremony at the
Kennedy Library in
Boston. The award is generally presented by Kennedy's daughter
Caroline Kennedy. Also before their deaths Senator
Edward Kennedy,
John F. Kennedy Jr., and former First Lady
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Two recipients,
John Lewis (in 2001) and
William Winter (in 2008), were designated as honorees for Lifetime Achievement.
The winner is presented with a
sterling silver lantern made by
Tiffany's which was designed by
Edwin Schlossberg. The lantern is patterned after the lanterns on USS
Constitution, the last sail-powered ship to remain part of the
US Navy, which is permanently moored nearby.
Profile in Courage Award - Wikipedia