Rafi Manoukian

Chosen by the Board of Directors and the Selection Committee of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) was Rafi Manoukian; a City Council Member from Glendale, CA. until 2007. Mr. Manoukian was selected to receive the 2006 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

On Saturday, May 13 on Ellis Island 100 other recipients as well as Manoukian will be presented the award.

"This is truly a great honor for not only me but for the City of Glendale," says Manoukian.

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is presented to Americans of diverse origins who over time have made great contributions to the nation. The U.S. Senate passed a decree sponsored by Senator Hilary Clinton (D-NY) to officially recognize this award, calling it a “celebration of the richness and diversity of American life.” The House of Representatives approved a comparable resolution. This acknowledgment from both the House and the Senate adds an even greater distinction to one of the nation's most prestigious awards and pays tribute to those individuals who have been honored as recipients.

Members of the NECO Board of Directors and Honorary Chairpersons include Sen. Hillary Clinton, U.S. Representative Dan Burton (R-IN), former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Gov. George Pataki, George Steinbrenner, III, and Lee Iacocca, among other notables.

Mr. Manoukian lost his campaign for re-election in April of 2007.