Thursday, June 19, 2008

Extraordinary day at the White House for the Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremonies. Crisp, clear blue sky, sunny and comfortable day. A lot of joy in the presentations (see my written file records of what was said about me by the POTUS). Very good media coverage. The presentations for everyone were very warm. Lots of wonderful pictures. Many guests (some of whom came for me) such as Justice Scalia, Sam Donaldson, Cuba Gooding, Judge Merrick Arlen, Gen. Richard Meyers,, etc. I had very warm interaction with the POTUS. When we approached him with my group of 10 (Chris, Jenny, Ali, Denise and Jack, Cliff Lane, Hugh Auchincloss, J.J. McGowan, Greg Folkers and Patty Conrad) to take a group Picture, the POTUS hugged me and put his lips to my ears and said, “I love you Tony, Thanks for all you do for our country and the world”. The ceremony took place in the east Room and the reception took place in the Banquet room of the East Wing. After the ceremony we watched from the balcony as the POTUS took off in Marine One for a tour of the flood damage in Iowa. After the reception, Chris took off with Ali to fly to Chicago to bring home Megan from her year there. Jenny is home after graduation trying to decide what she will do next year. June 21 – 29, 2008 – Extraordinary trip to Greece with Chris, Jenny, Megan and Alison. I went first to Thessaloniki to deliver Keynote Address at the Immunocompromised Host Society Chaired by Steve Holland. Spoke on HIV/AIDS (of course). Then met family in Athens where I received an honorary doctorate at the University of Athens sponsored by Haralampous (Harry) Moutsopoulos, my old friend from NIH days 30 years ago. Absolutely fabulous time, elegant hotel (Grand Bretagne), wonderful food, elegant ceremony (very formal with old robes), sight-seeing at Acropolis, Agora, Old Olympic Stadium. Then spent 3 days on the island of Santorini (Ali picked the place) in a beautiful, but understated beachfront Hotel with Harry and his wife Foteini. Santorini is a volcanic island of indescribable beauty. Perfect weather – no clouds at all for 1 week in Greece. Great hospitality, especially from Harris Roussos, an old and dear friend of Harry’s who runs the biggest hospital in Athens and who owns an elegant home in Santorini. They threw a “Greek-Style” party for us one night. Spent evenings eating elegant meals at mountain cliff restaurant or on the beach. Visited Oia, Fira – stayed at Kamara Beach. One of the best vacations (albeit brief) that I have ever experienced.