Honor Norman Corwin with The Congressional Gold Medal

Sign the Petition : 634 Letters and Emails Sent So Far

To The Distinguished Members Of The Senate And House Of Representatives Of The United States Of America:

Norman Lewis Corwin is a national treasure whose contributions to our nation have long been cherished by millions of fans. Mr. Corwin will become a centenarian on May 3, 2010. This gives Congress a unique opportunity to award The Congressional Gold Medal to a man that inspired this nation with his legendary radio programs before, during and after World War II. He never failed to give his listeners a greater appreciation of the liberties and rights afforded to all Americans.

Mr. Corwin’s December 15, 1941 four-network broadcast celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Bill of Rights, “We Hold These Truths,” was heard by Sixty-Three Million Americans—half of U.S. population at that time. Fifty years later, Mr. Corwin wrote an updated version for the 200th Anniversary in 1991, expanding the program for a new generation via National Public Radio.

When Nazi Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, V-E Day, millions of Americans turned to the Poet Laureate of Radio to hear what has been called the single greatest radio broadcast of the 20th Century: Norman Corwin’s “On A Note Of Triumph.” The show was so appreciated that a repeat performance was given on May 13, 1945.

On August 14, 1945, V-J Day, the nation once again turned to Mr. Corwin and once again he delivered: “14 August.” The show would be expanded and rebroadcast as a Day of Prayer Special on August 19, 1945 as “God and Uranium.” Again, Mr. Corwin revisited this program a half-century later with “50 Years After 14 August” in 1995 in order to educate a new generation about The Greatest Generation.

Sadly, this great American’s career suffered at the hands of McCarthyism and the Red Scare. Never a communist or socialist, Mr. Corwin nevertheless paid a price for his fierce defense of the principles of freedom and equality for all Americans. As Mr. Corwin wrote at the conclusion of “On A Note Of Triumph,” “Brotherhood is not so wild a dream as those who profit by postponing it pretend.”

We urge you to support the unanimous passage of legislation to give the thanks of a grateful nation to a great American Icon.		Honor Norman Corwin with The Congressional Gold Medal

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People signing the "Honor Norman Corwin with The Congressional Gold Medal" petition!

  1. Mon., Mar. 1, 2010 3:42 PM    link LeRoy B. | Bloomington, IN

    Some 5 years ago I nominated Norman Corwin to be a recepient of the Kennedy Center Honors as a major contributor to the Golden Age of Radio and an important artist during the war years of the nation.

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  3. Wed., Feb. 17, 2010 12:17 PM    link Jim L. | Santa Barbara, CA

    An honor long overdue for an honorable life.

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  5. Mon., Feb. 8, 2010 2:52 AM    link Steve S. | Richmond, CA

  6. Mon., Feb. 8, 2010 2:02 AM    link Judith L. | San Francisco, CA

  7. Fri., Feb. 5, 2010 1:44 PM    link Geoffrey B. | Pasadena, CA

    A genuine American patriot and hero.

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  9. Wed., Feb. 3, 2010 2:45 PM    link Ann C. | Tillson, NY

  10. Wed., Jan. 27, 2010 6:12 PM    link Melinda P. | Beverly Hills, CA

    Mr. Corwin speaks to the true essence of the American Spirit.

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  12. Tue., Jan. 19, 2010 5:33 PM    link Charlie W. | Fairfax, VA

    Never have I witnessed such compelling radio writing. Mr. Corwin's understanding of America, and his ability to tell the story, have set the standard for the rest of us.

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  14. Wed., Jan. 13, 2010 7:42 PM    link Name not displayed | Santa Fe, NM

  15. Wed., Jan. 13, 2010 7:39 PM    link Linda K. | Santa Fe, NM

  16. Thu., Jan. 7, 2010 5:20 PM    link Jeffrey M. | Bloomington, IN

  17. Wed., Jan. 6, 2010 8:12 PM    link Bryan D. | Bloomington, IN

  18. Wed., Jan. 6, 2010 12:06 PM    link Cary B. | Bloomington, IN

  19. Tue., Jan. 5, 2010 2:46 PM    link John W. | Bloomington, IN

  20. Mon., Jan. 4, 2010 4:25 PM    link Cindy B. | Bloomington, IN

  21. Mon., Jan. 4, 2010 9:28 AM    link Tony B. | Bloomington, IN

  22. Mon., Jan. 4, 2010 7:48 AM    link Brian P. | Plainfield, IN

    Corwin's pallet used the simplest and most affecting devices--words, ideas, and truth as the writer sees it.

  23. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  24. Sun., Jan. 3, 2010 10:53 PM    link Richard F. | Bloomington, IN

    The Wendell Willkie Foundation gave Norman Corwin their very first Award, in 1946. Corwin has always written and advocated all that is best in America, repeatedly honoring our Founding Fathers and national institutions. PLEASE take this opportunity to honor an outstanding American, and one of the 20th Century's greatest writers.

  25. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  26. Sun., Jan. 3, 2010 5:18 PM    link Name not displayed | Los Angeles, CA

  27. Sun., Jan. 3, 2010 3:46 PM    link Michael G. | Mount Kisco, NY

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