Washington,
DC - The Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI), a Virginia based
international nonprofit organization, hosted its 13th
annual Clearing the Path Gala on October 20th at
the elegant Fairmont Washington DC Hotel. The event, co-sponsored
by General Dynamics and Samsung, was an enormous success and the
funds raised will be used to continue MLI's efforts to eliminate
the humanitarian dangers and destabilizing effects of landmines
around the world.
MLI
develops indigenous capabilities to alleviate suffering and nurture
stability in war-torn countries by providing highly trained mine
detection dogs (MDDs) to 'sniff out' landmines, save lives and
return land to productive use. Since its founding in 1997, MLI has
donated 149 highly-trained lifesaving dogs to severely contaminated
countries - to include Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Eritrea, Iraq, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka
and Thailand. MLI's Children Against Mines Program
(CHAMPS) fosters a sense of global citizenship among American youth
by involving
them in meaningful service-learning projects to help other children
in faraway places. Finally, MLI's
Survivors' Assistance programs help those who have been injured by
landmines by providing prostheses, rehabilitative treatment and
vocational training.
The
generous support of the U.S. Department of State's Office of
Weapons Removal & Abatement and private donors allow MLI to
carry out its vital programs. The annual Clearing
the Path Gala is a celebration of the successes MLI has
achieved and honors those who have positively influenced the lives
of people in landmine affected countries. To kick off
the evening's festivities, one of MLI's strongest corporate
supporters, BAE Systems, was presented with the 2010 Clearing
the Path Corporate Award by MLI founder, General Gordon
Sullivan. Following a delicious dinner and an impressive
performance by the World Children's Choir, Senator Mike and Diana
Enzi presented the Joan Wismer CHAMPS Award to Susan Hollier, an
extraordinary teacher from the Woodlands, Texas, who led her
students and community in sponsoring MDD Texas, who is
currently searching for mines in Iraq, and in assisting young Iraqi
landmine survivors.
Charge
d'Affaires Ashraf Haidari of Afghanistan then took the stage and
spoke about the impact MLI has had on his country, remarking, "We are grateful to the Marshall Legacy
Institute for the significant support it continues to provide to
the mine clearance programs in Afghanistan. The 18
mine detection dogs, which MLI has sent to Afghanistan since 2008,
have saved many lives and prevented countless injuries from mine
accidents."
Following
Mr. Haidari's speech, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State,
Brigadier General Thomas Masiello, spoke of MLI's global activities
and the partnership between MLI and the U.S. government, which has
resulted in impressive achievements in mine affected
countries. MLI's President, Colonel Perry F.
Baltimore then announced the co-winners of the Mine Detection Dog
Team of the Year Award, Pojata Mirsad & MDD Danny of
Bosnia Herzegovina and CPL Mouchawrab & MDD Iris of
Lebanon. COL Baltimore presented Nermin Hadzimujagic
and the DCM of the Embassy of Bosnia Herzegovina, Damir Dzanko,
with the award on behalf of the Bosnian team winners, and then CPL
Mouchawrab and MDD Iris took the stage to be presented with
their award.
Finally, MLI announced Tony Lake, former MLI Board
chairman and current Executive Director of UNICEF, as the recipient
of the 2010 Clearing the Path Humanitarian
Award. President of the MacArthur Foundation and
former Dean of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown
University, Bob Gallucci, introduced Tony Lake by video and was
then followed on stage by Ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, who
spoke of her long relationship with Mr. Lake and his commitment to
helping children around the world. GEN Sullivan and
COL Baltimore then joined Ambassador Rice in presenting the award
to Tony Lake, which included a leather-bound book of congratulatory
letters from President Obama, members of Congress, foreign leaders,
and other dignitaries.
The
evening also featured Actor Jack McGee as the Emcee, an
extraordinary landmine display by the Night Vision Lab of the U.S. Humanitarian
Demining R&D Program, a masterful rendition of the National
Anthem by MSG Caleb Green, and an impressive demonstration by CPL
Mouchawrab and his canine companion
Iris. MLI sincerely thanks all 2010
Gala donors! For information on becoming a 2011 Gala sponsor,
please contact MLI at info@marshall-legacy.org.
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