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The Minuteman Cane Award of Lexington MA (I  am proud of her (2))

This most prestigious awardby my home town is given annually to a person over 80 years old, has been a resident of Lex. for 15 years, and is  actively involved in the community,and an inspiration to others.  

On April 6 2017, the Minuteman Cane Award Selection Committee came to our home and told my wife that she has won this top award  of the town and will be honored publically at the annual Patriots Day  celebration http://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-1565-22116.html . The CANE will be presented to her on the Battle green on  the morning on Patriots Day April 17th 2017.  

Needless to say theentire Ho family is so proud and happy for the  matriarch of the family and grateful to the so many friends who labored  to put the nomination together andthe support of they offered in their  recommendation letters. Two of our children on the East Coast and one grand child  from Chicago flew back home to join the celebration. In the afternoon she rode in a convertible in the afternoon town parade.

Here are some photos of the day. (Note added 4/18: I have pursuaded my wife to write down her accpetance speech which in my opinion is a model of acceptance speeches. This is appended at the end of the photos below)

(Second note added 4/18/2017. In my excitement for reporting this,  I apologize for not mentioning that a second town award that day  (for outstanding youth) is to the daughter of Dr. Melanie Lin (of the NYT fame http://blog.sciencenet.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=1565&do=blog&id=1046850 , Emily Zhang. Thus two CAs are honored on patriots day - a record.

  Famous Celebration phrase

  The old glory

   Parade before the ceremony 1

     Parade 2

  Sophia accepting the Cane award

  With two daughters and one grandson

Riding in the convertible past the reviewing stand.

The Cane with inscription

The award certificate signed by all town officers

Reception given by Local Lions Club

With other former recipients of the Cane award

With Wenjie Cheng who nominated Sophia with others

Award acceptance speech by my wife:

First of all, I’d like to thank the Minuteman Cane Committee for giving me this great Award. I am humbled, honored and am very, very happy.

I want to thank the Nomination Committee, lead by Wenjie Cheng and Nancy Adler and Jeri Zider, who wrote letters on my behalf.

I’d also like to thank my family: My husband of 57 year, Larry Ho, for always supported me and encouraged me to do the right things. My children, my two daughters Christine who came from Ct. and Lara who came to DC. My son called from CA saying that he was sorry that he could not be here with us. What’s more, our grandson, Max Kim, who flew in last night from Chicago to surprise me. Thank you all.

51 years ago, we moved to Lexington. Lexington was our first and only choice. We moved here because of it’s great schools. But I discovered that Lexington is a lot more than just good schools. I felt welcomed by Lexington, It provided me with opportunities to get involved, friends and neighbors encouraged me to participate in different Committees.

I believe that one should take advantage of whatever Lexington has to offer, but one should also give back to our community.

I also believe that a person is a lucky person, a happy person if that person loves someone, and someone loves back. I am the luckiest person, happiest person because I love my family, they love me back. I love Lexington, Lexington loves me back!

Thank you, Lexington.

Notes added 5/3/2017: For an account of this in local Chinese newspapers (written in Chinese) see http://usbmp.com/2017/05/sophia-ho-receives-minuteman-cane-award/