At Care2, we believe in honoring our heroes. And we believe that thirty year-old copy machine repairman Jonathan Smith deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Here’s why...
Like more than 500 others, he was wounded October 1, 2017 when a gunman opened fire on concertgoers at a Las Vegas music festival. He survived the mass shooting, which has
claimed the lives of at least 58 people so far.
Jonathan Smith also risked his own safety and saved several other people’s lives too. Again and again, Smith reportedly pulled other concertgoers — first, family members, and then complete strangers — out of the killer’s line of fire.
Just how many lives Smith — who had no special training or unique obligation to help — saved from the killer isn’t immediately clear. Some sources have reported him rescuing as many as 30 people. But regardless of the number, Smith has a bullet in his neck now, and it is a grim reminder that true bravery isn’t without risk.
Let’s be clear: by no means is Jonathan Smith the only hero to emerge from the terrifying events in Las Vegas October 1. First responders, event staff, and even individual concertgoers all helped usher people to safety and care for survivors.
But awarding Jonathan Smith the Presidential Medal of Freedom isn't just about recognizing Smith’s ’s extraordinary courage and sacrifice. It would also honor the compassion and unity that animates everyday heroes across the country. And it would show the world the very best in American values.
We need to celebrate heroes like Jonathan Smith — ordinary people whose courage and compassion call them to the extraordinary. Please add your name to this petition and urge the president to award Mr. Smith the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 