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Emotionally charged ceremony brings tears from NFL superstar Hines Ward. "I used to be ashamed of my Korean heritage when I was child," said Ward. But he added he was now very proud of that heritage and apologized for his past resentment while expressing his gratitude for the warm welcome he has received. After making these comments he was overwhelmed and could not continue speaking. In his left hand he clutched his certificate of honorary citizenship in Seoul. Ward opened his tear-filled eyes and looked at his mother who was sitting nearby.
He pointed to mother and said once again how much she had sacrificed for him, adding "Without my mom, I do not think I would be where I am now." His mother Kim Young-hee then took off her glasses to wipe away the tears and a sudden hush came over the mass of reporters who had been falling over themselves to get at the athlete. At that moment Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak, who had been standing next to him, came close to comfort him and got out a handkerchief to wipe away his tears
Ward (30, Pittsburgh Steelers) became the honorary Seoul citizen on Wednesday. 29 years after he went to the U.S. with his mother after being born in Jegi-dong, Seoul in 1976. The city presented honorary citizenship certificate and a medal, in return Ward gave the Mayor his jersey with his number 86 and phrase, ¡®¡®To Mayor of Seoul, LEE MYOUNG BAK. Go Steelers!¡¯
Ward said that to let people know about the toils of his mother, who went to a strange land to make dream come true, I had kept the plan to visit Korea in mind since long time ago. And he also said that he is happy that he received honorary citizenship on his first visit to Seoul. The Mayor said, ¡°The mother of Hines Ward reminds me of my mother.¡± He told Ward to visit Seoul again next year after being MVP again.
Honorary Seoul citizenship is presented to a state guest of Seoul or foreigners residing in Seoul who make a contribution to the improvement of the city. So far honorees include Nobel laureate Pearl S. Buck (1968), action movie star Jackie Chan (1999) Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson (2004), and Guus Hiddink, Dutch football coach (2002). Ward became the 538th honorary citizen.
Ward is schedule to visit to the Ewha Womans University Medical Center, where he was born on Thursday.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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