Maria Shriver and other dignitaries gathered for the unveiling of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Park the other day in Athens, Greece, to honor the memory and monumental contributions of the Special Olympics founder as part of the World Summer Games 2011. Shriver gave a statement paying tribute to her mother’s legacy as her brothers Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, Mark Shriver and Robert Shriver looked on, along with their spouses and children. Second Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden, Olympians Michelle Kwan, Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo, Bart Conner, Edwin Moses and Donna DeVarona were also present for this ceremony.
Said Shriver: “Mummy would be thrilled that this park is in Athens because it’s named after the Goddess Athena. As we all know, the Goddess Athena is the goddess of wisdom, but she is never depicted without her shield and without her helmet because she is a warrior. At heart, she is a warrior. As every woman knows, you have to be both. You have to know when to be wise. You have to know when to be compassionate. And you have know when to put on your helmet, take out your spear, put on your shield and go to war — and fight for what you believe in. And Mummy was, at her heart, a warrior. She woke up every day and fought…that’s what she did her whole life.” Here’s Maria in Beverly Hills visiting a hair salon a few days before Athens.
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