Saduman Gurbuz Receives Highest Medal of Turkish Foreign Ministry
The Turkish Times-Republic of Turkey's Foreign Ministry has awarded Mrs. Saduman Gurbuz of Dallas, Texas, for her outstanding volunteer work and dedication over the years among the Turkish-American associations. Turkey's Ambassador to USA in Houston, Honorable Ali Arsin, has presented the Medal of Honor to Mrs. Gurbuz during the celebrations of 79th Anniversary of Turkish Republic at Marriot Hotel in Dallas.

Ambassador Arsin during his address to guests at Turkish Republic Ball mentioned that he would not have enough time at that night to count all of the success stories, activities and projects that Mrs. Gurbuz has been accomplished over decades. Her story, since 1982, is one of self-sacrifice, devotion to ideas, charitable endeavors of an unbroken two-decade chain and dedicated contribution to the socio-cultural promotion and political advocacy of her former homeland. During his speech Mr. Arsin said that Mrs. Gurbuz has done most of her work while sacrificing her personal time and family life. Ambassador Arsin finalized his oration with the words that her being recognized by outside organizations is the biggest success of them all. Her work especially straddles the historical friendship and amity between the Turkish and Jewish people, as recorded in her career by the "Woman of Spirit" award by the American Jewish Congress, September 2001. The Republic of Turkey's Foreign Ministry is and has been very proud with her and her accomplishments, and she is a well-deserved person to receive such a high award.

Portraits of Pride
Pinar Polat, The Turkish Times National Grassroots Editor pinarpolat@hotmail.com

Awards honor Barton's spirit
The Clara Barton Spectrum Awards are named in honor of Clara Barton, who founded the American Red Cross in 1881. She recognized the need for disaster relief services after the Civil War. During that war, she was called "Angel of the Battlefield" for the care she gave wounded soldiers.

•Clara Barton was born in North Oxford, Mass., in 1821. She was first a teacher, then the first female clerk at the U.S. Patent Office. She learned about the International Committee of the Red Cross while recuperating in Switzerland from her wartime work.

•The Orange County Chapter of the American Red Cross was officially recognized in 1965, but the American Red Cross has provided services to the community since 1898 when a small group of Santa Ana women gathered to send bandages and other medical supplies to soldiers fighting in the Spanish-American War.

•In February 1917, Newport Beach became the home of the first Orange County-based chapter.

•The Clara Barton Spectrum Awards recognize women who have demonstrated the same tireless effort and pioneering spirit of Clara Barton.