New York City - The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) held its 25th annual Ellis Island Medal of Honor ceremony followed by a black tie gala in The Great Hall on Ellis Island. All branches of the military were represented in the patriotic and very emotional ceremony that came the same week as the death of Osama Bin Laden.

The Statue of Liberty lit up. (Rob Rich)

The newly designed medal, created for the 25th anniversary, was designed by Dr. Khavarani. In the new Medal, the red ribbon represents the bloodshed in gaining and supporting our freedom, the blue center is the world we share, the blazing torch is the gift immigrants bring to America, the lone star represents the individual while the 50 pyramids evoke the 50 states that are connected at a base but radiate out to individual points of brilliance.

NECO was created on the principle that the diversity of its people is what makes America great. Its mission is to honor and preserve that diversity and to foster tolerance and respect among people of differing religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Each year NECO sponsors the The Ellis Island Medals of Honor, which are recorded in the Congressional Records, to pay homage to the immigrant experience, as well as for individual achievement. The honorees are remarkable Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage.

Past Medalists include six Presidents, as well as Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government. The 2011 Medal of Honor recipients include Jerry Lewis, Doris Roberts, Sal Cassano, James Comley, Ken Kendrick, Jr., Don Shula, John O'Hurley, Admiral Bruce DeMars, Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, and Captain Linda Fagan among others.

For more information on NECO and The Ellis Island Medal of Honor go to www.neco.org.