Photo credit: Janet Donovan
“Our best wishes to you, Suzanne and everyone there tonight for a memorable celebration” said former President George W. Bush.
“Our family is mighty proud of Tom,” said CBS Evening News anchor Bob Schieffer. “Maybe we shouldn’t be at all surprised about all he has done. After-all, by the time he was ten years old, he had the biggest hat in the neighborhood and was already riding tall in the saddle…..so hats off to you little brother.”
Ambassador John Thomas Schieffer (left)
Both were wired in via video message at a ceremony hosted by Kenichiro Sasae, The Ambassador of Japan, in honor of former US Ambassador to Japan (2005-2009) John Thomas Schieffer, where he received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
So what exactly is the meaning of the bestowed medal? The embassy staff was happy to explain: “In 1875, the Order of the Rising Sun was established as Japan’s first national award of which the Grad Cordon is the highest in ranking. The medal features rays of sunlight radiating from a rising sun. The attachment is shaped into paulowina flowers and leaves.
On November 3, 2013, the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2013 Autumn Imperial Decorations. The Order was awarded to Ambassador Schieffer in recognition of his significant contributions to the promotion of friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the U.S.”
The Proclamation – signed by The Emperor of Japan we were told
Ambassador Schieffer has remained involved in people to people exchange, economic issues and reconstruction support for the victims of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami through his positions as a Council Member of the U.S.-Japan Council and Board Member of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. Like Schieffer, Mansfield was also an Ambassador to Japan.
Shaun Tandon – Agence France-Presse, Maria Galanou – Press Attache Embassy of Greee & Minister Ohtaka
To the brothers Schieffer, of Texas origins, we say hats off. And in case you think they have parted ways with their Texas roots, Amb. Schieffer has also served as the president and general manager of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club
