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November 12, 2014 Mayor Caldwell's Press Office: 768-5768 (cell 489-0341)   Presidential Medal of Freedom for Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink   HONOLULU – President Barack Obama announced today that he will posthumously award Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington, D.C. on November 24th.   Mayor Kirk Caldwell applauded the announcement:   "I had the honor and privilege of getting to know Congresswoman Mink during my time working in Senator Inouye's Washington, D.C. office. She would make time in her busy schedule to invite young professionals who cared about Hawaii to dinner at her house. We would talk about how we could change Hawaii for the better. Her passion was contagious and made us all want to do more.    "Congresswoman Mink showed us that major change could be accomplished with hard work. Her advice was: don't be timid; push for what's right, make the world a better place. She certainly did in her life. She inspired us to follow her lead.   "Congresswoman Mink changed America. She created equal educational opportunities for millions of women across the country. She broke barriers. She personally taught me and many others. She led by example.   "The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor an American civilian can receive, and there is no question that Patsy Takemoto Mink earned it with a lifetime of passion and hard work."   -END-