Post by TheShadow on Aug 17, 2006 3:47:57 GMT -5
www.raiders.com/
Hall of Fame American Football player for the Colts, Packers and Oakland Raiders and native of Guatemala - Ted Hendricks - was awarded the Guatemalan Presidential Medal of Achievement from President Oscar Berger recently at the National Palace in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Friends and relatives from the United States and Guatemala witnessed the proclamation and ceremony.
Mr. Hendricks then addressed the attendees and national press in his native Spanish thanking those who had been a part of granting him this great honor and also for their support throughout his career. He remarked about the valuable experiences he had as a young boy playing soccer and spending his summers in the Guatemalan countryside, speaking the language with his family and learning how to appreciate the unique culture of the country.
In his remarks, President Oscar Berger admitted that he is a great football fan and how much he enjoyed traveling to both New Orleans and Tampa Bay to cheer on the Oakland Raiders and Ted Hendricks during two Super Bowl victories. President Berger presented Theodore Paul Hendricks with the "Orden Presidencial" medallion as well as a gilded Guatemalan National Flag. Mr. Hendricks presented President Oscar Berger with an official autographed regulation Oakland Raider helmet.
"I was speechless with how delightful everything was. All my uncles, aunts and cousins were happy to see me receiving the medal," Hendricks said. "The president asked me if we could take a picture with the Raiders flag because he is a big Raider fan. In the past, he even went to Tampa for Super Bowl XVIII. After the ceremony we all went to my cousin's house to have lunch. The president came later and stayed for the party!"