02-25-2014, 11:39 PM
9 MONTHS LATER...
![[Image: 9444733_448x252.jpg]](http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/images/kabc/cms_exf_2007/news/national_world/9444733_448x252.jpg)
The three women who survived a decade-long captivity in a Cleveland house before being freed received Gov. John Kasich's annual courage awards on Monday night. Kasich called the women's story one of hurt beyond imagination, but also a story that didn't end there.
"It is also a story of three women who found an inner strength and a courage that brought them through and sustained them," Kasich said near the end of his annual State of the State speech. "No one rescued them, they rescued themselves_first by staying strong and by sticking together, and then by literally breaking out into freedom."
The presentation nearly overshadowed Kasich's speech given the women's popularity since their release. They were household names in Cleveland for years as missing persons, and their discovery electrified a community accustomed to bleaker outcomes.
Kasich hugged the women as he entered the hall before his speech and pictures of that moment quickly flew across cyberspace.
As he announced the awards, Kasich called them "three extraordinary women, who despite having the worst in this world thrown at them, rose above it and emerged not as victims, but as victors."
The women - Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight - walked onto the stage to be embraced by the governor and receive their medals. The audience stood and cheered for more than two minutes, the longest ovation of the night. It was a rare case of the trio being together following their rescue.
"Is that just unbelievable," a clearly moved Kasich said to GOP House Speaker William Batchelder and GOP Senate President Keith Faber, who were also on stage. "Wow."
Full story: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?sectio...id=9444735
The three women who survived a decade-long captivity in a Cleveland house before being freed received Gov. John Kasich's annual courage awards on Monday night. Kasich called the women's story one of hurt beyond imagination, but also a story that didn't end there.
"It is also a story of three women who found an inner strength and a courage that brought them through and sustained them," Kasich said near the end of his annual State of the State speech. "No one rescued them, they rescued themselves_first by staying strong and by sticking together, and then by literally breaking out into freedom."
The presentation nearly overshadowed Kasich's speech given the women's popularity since their release. They were household names in Cleveland for years as missing persons, and their discovery electrified a community accustomed to bleaker outcomes.
Kasich hugged the women as he entered the hall before his speech and pictures of that moment quickly flew across cyberspace.
As he announced the awards, Kasich called them "three extraordinary women, who despite having the worst in this world thrown at them, rose above it and emerged not as victims, but as victors."
The women - Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight - walked onto the stage to be embraced by the governor and receive their medals. The audience stood and cheered for more than two minutes, the longest ovation of the night. It was a rare case of the trio being together following their rescue.
"Is that just unbelievable," a clearly moved Kasich said to GOP House Speaker William Batchelder and GOP Senate President Keith Faber, who were also on stage. "Wow."
Full story: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?sectio...id=9444735