A Very Special Evening Honoring Courage
The Radio Television Digital News Foundation held it’s 20th anniversary dinner last night at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington. It honored individuals in broadcasting who fight the good fight to make the 1st Amendment to the Constitution more than just words.
The highlight for me came when CBS News Radio Vice President and dear friend, Harvey Nagler, received his award for his 40 years of service toward that end and graciously put the spotlight, not on himself, but on his brave and couragious correspondent, and also my dear friend, Cami McCormick. Cami attended the dinner, one of her first public appearances since she narrowly escaped death and survived an IED attack in Afghanistan last August.
Cami has never asked for the spotlight and I hope she won’t be upset that I am writing about last night’s event. As Harvey recounted the scary and awful events of last summer, he paused in his speech, and as his voice cracked with understandable emotion, said he was going to do something he never thought would have been possible. He asked Cami to stand and be recognized. As a literal, bright spotlight shone on her, Cami confidently defied the odds one more time and mustered the strength to get up from her wheelchair and stand before the whole world on her injured legs.
It was a moment I will never forget. A moment of victory for Cami, for free speech, for the courage it takes to risk life and limb to report the truth. To literally stand for the 1st Amendment.
Cami has a “bumper sticker” on her Facebook wall that reads: “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”
Your strength continues to be an inspiration to us all, Cami. We all love you so much.
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Garcia Media Life 
Oh I wish I had been there. Trix and I have tears in our eyes!! What a huge step forward.
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to my step-daughter. I am so very proud of her.
A wonderful tribute to Cami. I was there and the emotion moved us all! Cami represents the very essence of what we celebrated that evening–the First Amendment.
It was a very special evening indeed. Robert, your words describe what we all felt. As Harvey looked over at Cami, voice shaking, you could hear a pin drop. Chills went down my spine. We both had the same view, thankfully, as Cami sat near us. We waited in anticipation for her to rise, hoping, praying, she could. We willed her to, I think. And were so happy and relieved when, with what must have been great effort, she gradually rose to her feet. Wartime has taken the lives and limbs of our loved ones and colleagues. How easy it is to forget that journalists risk their lives daily to tell the most extraordinary stories. We are blessed to live in a free nation where we can exercise the First Amendment. I don’t know about you, but as soon as it was announced that Harvey Nagler was winning this award, I immediately booked my airline ticket. There wasn’t going to be a good enough reason to miss that moment. Cami and Harvey are our industries best.