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And that legacy will be forged by all of us doing our part. By those of us here in Washington doing what needs to be done to improve the lives of people who are -- we were elected to serve. By brave men and women fighting under our flag. By citizens and neighborhood organizations and places of worship that are giving back to the communities. And by scientists that are advancing what we know about the workings of the world and the universe. But also by Americans like you -- creators, imaginers, entertainers -- helping each of us understand the human experience, and helping all of us recognize that common humanity.
That task is especially important I think right now. It's easy in times like these, with all the talk about what makes us different and what divides us, what keeps us apart, to lose sight of what holds us together. To forget that no matter what our differences, some things speak to all of us.
It doesn't matter whether we're Democrats or Republicans, all of us are profoundly moved by our reflection in black granite. No matter what the color of our skin or what beliefs we hold, all of us can draw lessons from the works of history. No matter what community we call our own, all of us can be moved by a symphony, or an aria; all of us can be moved by a soprano's voice; all of us can be moved by a film's score. The arts, the humanities, they appeal to a certain yearning that's shared by all of us -- a yearning for truth and for beauty, for connection and the simple pleasure of a good story.
More than 200 years and 25 -- 225 years ago, on February 18, 1784, George Washington sat down at his home in Mount Vernon to write a letter. It was just a month after Congress officially put an end to the war with the British Empire. And it was still years before the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia -- years before this general ended up becoming President. Years before 13 newly independent colonies became one nation, indivisible under God.
But the letter Washington sat down to write that day was not about the recent triumph over the British. It was not about what shape a young America might take. Instead, it was a letter to a bookseller. Before requesting a few volumes, Washington expressed a belief -- and I quote -- "to encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes to his country."
A duty of every good citizen. So speaks the father of our country. Even then, amid all the concerns of those heady and dangerous days, Washington took time to reflect on the infinite value of what were then called "the elegant arts." Even then, he foresaw the essential role that the arts and the humanities would play in the formation of our country's character. And if Washington were with us today, I think he would agree that all of you have fulfilled your duties; that all of you are good citizens; that all of you have enriched the legacy of the United States of America.
So with that, I now ask the honorees to come up, one by one, as their citations are read.
MILITARY AIDE: The 2009 National Humanities Medal to Elie Wiesel. (Applause.) The 2009 national Humanities Medal to Elie Wiesel, for his unwavering commitment to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and its victims. He has fostered compassion and understanding through his writing, his leadership, and his relentless advocacy for human rights. (Applause.)
The 2009 National Medal of Arts recipients.
Milton Glaser. (Applause.) The 2009 National Medal of Arts to Milton Glaser, for a lifetime devoted to improving the way people communicate through innovation in graphic design, and for memorable visual artifacts that challenge contemporary artists and delight all Americans. (Applause.)
