The policy elite in Washington, D.C., from Capitol Hill, the Obama Administration, the American media, American think tanks and others celebrated heroes who exhibit today the courage displayed by modern history’s most consequential Davids vs. Goliaths for democracy — the Greek people in WWII. During the Second Annual Washington Oxi Day Foundation Celebration October 24-25, the following were honored:

Chen Guangcheng

The blind Chinese human rights activist who blanketed the American media when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton brought him to America in May, received the Oxi Day Award

Dr. Fouzia Saeed

One of Pakistan’s most prominent women’s rights advocates, received the Battle of Crete Award

Elie Wiesel

The world’s most highly-regarded and well-known holocaust survivor and human rights advocate, received the Metropolitan Chrysostomos Award

Ben Gilman

The former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs received the Greatest Generation Award given to an American WWII hero

Brigadier General Mike Cokinos

Received the Greatest Generation Award given to a Greek-American WWII hero

Antonios Kounalakis

Received the Greatest Generation Award given to a Greek WWII hero

To learn more about these honorees, click here.

Hundreds of Washington’s top policymakers and opinion leaders participated in this effort to never forget the victims and heroes for freedom and democracy in WWII and today. In addition to the hundreds who were involved in the award nomination process, dozens of government officials, media leaders, think tank experts and business leaders participated in the ceremonies that took place in Washington, DC October 24th – 25th at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknowns, 6th and I Historic Synagogue, the US Institute for Peace, the National WWII Memorial and the black tie award dinner at the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel.

To see pictures from these events, click here.

To see the full schedule of events, click here.

To see reactions to these events, click here.