European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes wednesday november 20,1991 a the first lady ties the medal of Freedom around the neck of baseball great Ted Williams As president Bush looks on. Bush presents medal of Freedom to leaders who enriched nation Washington apr president Bush presented the medal of Freedom the nations highest civilian Honor to former first lady Betty Ford retired House speaker Thomas p. Of Neill baseball great Ted Williams and seven others monday. He said the 10 a have enriched our nation whether As leaders of popular movements As friends of the common Man or As intellectual  a their achievement and dedication Are unparalleled in America a he said. First lady Barbara Bush joined him in the East room ceremony pinning the Gold medal around the necks of the men and rewarding most with a kiss on the Cheek. She handed the boxed medals to the two women recipients Betty Ford and the University of Chicago a president Hanna Holborn Gray. Bush called of Neill the former democratic speaker from Boston a a legendary figure in american  a lie is a Tough partisan a said Bush adding with a smile and a glance at former president Gerald Ford a Jerry would you agree to that a Betty Ford was honoured for her Battle against breast cancer and As president of the Betty Ford Center for Washington a a baseball player born without a right hand a congressman stricken with polio in world War ii and a woman medical officer wounded on a Rescue Mission inside Iraq were among the winners monday night of the 1991 Victory awards. The awards sponsored by Washington a National rehabilitation Hospital were awarded at a Black tie ceremony in the Kennedy Center with president Bush and the first lady applauding from the presidential Box. The honors Given annually since 1986, Are bestowed each year on people who exemplify a tenacity and courage in overcoming serious  the 1991 winners were a baseball player Jim Abbott who has played three seasons with the California Angels despite being born without a right hand. A Billy Barty a 6l year Veteran of stage and movie performances who at 1 Inch Short of 4 feet tall has championed the cause of the nations a Little  Dallas apr a doctor whose House was picketed by anti abortion protesters said he discovered at his office monday morning that patients files had been rifled and Money was missing. A protest organizer denied any involvement. Robert Prince an obstetrician and gynaecologist with two offices in the City said someone broke into one of the helping people overcome drug and alcohol dependency As she herself did. Bush hailed Williams As a an american legend. And a twice tested War  he had trouble spotting the former Boston red sox outfielder on the far right end of the front Row. A oops there he is a said Bush holding up his hand and jokingly admonishing Williams. A a done to say  the Hall of Famer the last Man to hit .400, seemed awed by the Honor. When Bush called his name Williams son nudged him on the Back to get him to step Forward and receive his medal. The other Honoreen were conservative author and editor William f. Buckley or. Antonio Luis Ferre puerto rican publisher and businessman the Rev. Leon Howard Sullivan a Baptist Clergyman and business and civil rights Leader from Philadelphia Russell e. Train chairman of the Board of the world wildlife fund and the conservation foundation retired Gen. Vernon a. Walters envoy and former . Ambassador to the United nations and author and scholar Friedrich August von Hayek. Von Hayek a son accepted the medal for his elderly father who lives in Austria and is the author of the Road to serfdom. A rep. Charles e. Bennett d-fla., a member of Congress for 42 years who was severely disabled after being stricken with polio while serving in the Philippines during world War ii. A maj. Rhonda Cornum an army flight surgeon who suffered two broken arms a gunshot wound and severe leg injuries when her helicopter was shot Down while on a Rescue Mission Over Iraq. A Norm Crosby a comedian who achieved Success despite a serious hearing loss he suffered during world War ii. Crosby a radar operator suffered hearing problems caused by concussions from depth charges. A Sandy Duncan who staged a comeback in her career As a television and stage actress after a brain tumor pressing on her optic nerve Cost her the sight of her left Eye. The tumor was successfully removed. A Singer Gloria Estefan who underwent months of rehabilitation for a spinal chord injury suffered in a bus Accident during a 1990 tour. The Rev. Phillip Quot flip Quot Benham pastor of the free methodist Church in Garland and the anti abortion group s chief organizer said his group had nothing to do with the incident. He said Prince probably trashed his own office.  Cross to establish 14 regional laboratories from wire reports Washington a in an Effort to establish greater control Over screening procedures the american red Cross will consolidate the Job of testing donated blood for the aids virus and other infectious diseases at 14 regional laboratories. Elizabeth Dole president of the red Cross said monday that the regional laboratories will be located in Atlanta Boston Rochester . Philadelphia Baltimore Charlotte . Miami St. Paul Minn. Detroit Cleveland St. Louis Tulsa okla. Portland Ore. And los Angeles. The laboratories will perform testing currently being carried out in 52 blood collection centers around the United states she said. Unlike the present system in which the laboratories follow different testing practices All laboratories in the new network will follow the same procedures and be tightly controlled by the red Cross. The red Cross which collects More than 6 million blood donations annually manages More than half of the nations blood  planning Parade new York a turned Down by Macy a a group of american indians will hold its own a Parade for americans indigenous Peoples the Day before thanksgiving an organizer said monday. Several thousand indians from the United states Canada and South America were expected to join the Celebration of the a forgotten people of thanksgiving said organizer James Buden. Organizers were rejected in their attempts to join the nationally televised Macy a Parade. Macy a spokeswoman Liz Holland said she could not find evidence that the group had requested to be in Macy a Parade which she said a celebrates the first americans the indians and the Friendship they shared with the pilgrims.�?�2 picked As ambassadors Washington a assistant Secretary of state John Kelly will be nominated ambassador to Finland president Bush said monday. Bush also said he will nominate Deputy assistant Secretary of state Frederick Vreeland to be ambassador to Morocco. Kelly a career member of the senior foreign service has been assistant Secretary for near Eastern and South asian affairs at the state department since 1989. He would succeed John Weinmann. Vreeland serves under Kelly As Deputy assistant Secretary. He would succeed Michael Ussery. Both nominations must be confirmed by the  found hanged los Angeles a the daughter of coach television Star Jerry Van Dyke was found hanged in her Home authorities said. A family Friend found Kelly Jean Van Dyke Nance 33, hanging by a rope sunday night in the bedroom of a suburban North Hollywood apartment she shared with her husband Jack Nance said police it. Ron Larue. The death was listed As a suicide said coroners office spokesman Bob Dambacher. Van Dyke co stars with Craig t. Nelson on the Abc comedy coach featuring Van Dyke As befuddled assistant coach Luther Van  woes targeted Des Moines Iowa a gov. Terry e. Branstad said monday that he will visit Dubuque to try to Start Healing the City from the scars of Cross burnings and racial tension. The thanksgiving eve visit will be a a Symbol of my commitment and support for the Good folks of Dubuque a who Are being overshadowed by a Small number of racists the governor said. Dubuque has been plagued by a series of Cross burnings that began after the City launched an Effort to attract 100 minority families in the next five years. Fewer than 1.5 percent of Dubuque a 58,000 residents Are members of minority groups and Only about 330 Are Blacks. Servicewomen one handed athlete among those honoured for courage7 doctor s office trashed after protest offices Over the weekend and trashed patients files. Entry apparently was made through a Small window he said