to award the medal of freedom to Charles Poland, the bus driver who gave his life to protect children in Alabama.

"These children are my responsibility" said Charles Poland when he put himself between a gunman and the children on his bus. Regardless for where you stand on the gun debate, if in our towns and communities - we see all children as "our responsibility" - as Charles did, then maybe gun violence, poverty, abuse - we could make a better America. Charles is the example we must all follow. He wasnt a soldier, a firefighter or someone who had agreed to put their life on the line in the course of his job. He was an ordinary person - doing the job he had. He made the ultimate sacrifice that ordinary citizens are faced with when we allow issues to corrupt and endanger our families and communities. It is the power of the ordinary man or woman, we must unite behind and hold as the candle of hope.