Top honour for Lewis?

Jerry in line for Congress medal

Jerry Lewis has been put forward for America’s Congressional Gold Medal – the same honour previously bestowed on George Washington, Martin Luther King and Pope John Paul II.

Three senators have put the comic’s name forward for the accolade for his philanthropy and contribution to entertainment.

Lewis, 80. has hosted an annual telethon raising funds to fight muscular dystrophy since 1966. This year it raised a record $61 million, making the total over the past four decades to  $1.4 billion.

Senator Frank Lautenberg, who put forward the resolution in Congress, said: ‘This kind of commitment is what made America great, and it is why Jerry Lewis is a great American.’

And Senator Robert Menendez, whose name is also on the resolution, said the medal ‘would be a fitting accolade to this larger than life individual.’

Congressional legislation is required to award the medal and needs the agreement of at least two-thirds of the House of Representatives and 67 senators

 

Published: 7 Sep 2006

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