Boston Recieves a Gift from the Winner of the 2013 Boston Marathon

[freshwest]

Boston Marathon winner Lelisa Desisa announces he will return his medal in honor of the marathon bombing victims, during a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on May 26, 2013. And recieves a hug from John Kerry.




Secretary of State John Kerry answering questions for the world wide BBC audience in Addis Ababa:



Here he is with another young man at a confrence in Addis Ababa:



Here's the video of the question and answer session there:

Zeinab Badawi hosts the show from Addis Ababa, as John Kerry also takes questions from the BBC’s global audience. May 29, 2013

HARDtalk is in Ethiopia for a special edition of the programme with US Secretary of State John Kerry. As the African Union celebrates 50 years, young people from across the continent put their questions on US foreign policy direct to him. Zeinab Badawi hosts the show from Addis Ababa, as John Kerry also takes questions from the BBC's global audience about his country's relationship with the rest of the world.

Pictures courtesy of The Obama Diary.

http://theobamadiary.com/2013/06/02/sos-kerrys-youth-connect-forums/

For more information about the work of our Secretary of State, John Kerry:

http://www.youtube.com/user/statevideo?feature=watch

FYI: This is a post in the BOG, or Barack Obama Group, which is A SAFE HAVEN for supporters of our President and his policies.

[sheshe2]

1. Boston Thanks you Lelisa Desisa!

We welcomed you to Boston and cheered you on to your great victory:

In his debut over the marathon distance, he made one of the fastest ever debuts by winning the 2013 Dubai Marathon in a time of 2:04:45 hours. He was surprised by the quick time and said he would like to make a world record attempt in the future.[2] Three months later, in the 2013 Boston Marathon, he took the victory in a time of 2:10:22. Desisa was not hurt in the Boston Marathon bombings that occurred after his victory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lelisa_Desisa

Lelisa returned his medal to our SOS John Kerry, in a show of respect and solidarity to Boston and its victims.

He will be well praised and honored here in Boston next year.


A special thanks to Mr. Kerry. His job as SOS fits him well. He continues the mission of peace for America, where SOS Clinton left off.

He continues Our President vision.

Thank you freshwest for this awesome post!

Kick and rec!

[Cha]

2. What a sweet guy! Great find, freshwest!

That is an Awesome act of thoughtfulness.

Bless Lelisa Desisa's heart and giving it back to SOS, John Kerry at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, no less!

thank you, freshwest~

[DreamGypsy]

3. Ethiopia: Boston Marathon Winner Lelisa Desisa to Donate His Medal

I wondered, what were his thoughts on returning that token of his efforts...I found this at nazret.com:

In a somber ceremony at the American Embassy in Ethiopia on Sunday (May 26th), Lelisa Desisa, the men’s winner of this year’s Boston Marathon, said he intended to donate his medal to the people of Boston.

“Sport holds the power to unify people,” Desisa said. “Sport should never be used as a battleground.”

<snip>

Speaking softly through an interpreter, he said that after his finish, “joy turned to sorrow.”

Desisa, who was not injured in the attack, which killed three people and injured more than 260, said he was donating his medal as a tribute to the victims.

<snip>

Desisa said he planned to participate in the event next year.

“We commit ourselves to sport,” he said, “and we promise that next year in 2014 we will return to Boston to show the world that our commitment to sport, our commitment to our freedom is stronger than any act of violence.”

Nice.

[freshwest]

4. Thanks for the addition, DreamGypsy.

[treestar]

7. What a wonderful young man!

We will be glad to see him again in 2014!

[sheshe2]

5. Desisa at the finih line~

A gifted and gracious young man.

Boston looks forward to his return in 2014! he will receive a hero's welcome!

[freshwest]

6. Thanks, Sheshe! What a beautiful spirit he has!