October 1, 2019

Fulton, MO: Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was welcomed into the Association of Churchill Fellows of Westminster College at a luncheon prior to the 59th John Findley Green Foundation Lecture. Distinguished guests included internationally acclaimed artist Edwina Sandys, a granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, who delivered his famous “Sinews of Peace” address—commonly known as the “iron curtain” speech—at the Green Foundation Lecture in 1946.

In describing Sandys and Albright, Westminster College President Fletch Lamkin said, “We have with us this morning two remarkable women….Both are ground-breaking in their fields. Both have had an impact on the global stage. They have had, and continue to make, breakthroughs large and small.”

Honorary Senior Fellow Edwina Sandys is well known on the Westminster campus as the creator of the Breakthrough sculpture. She returned to Fulton to participate in the college’s Hancock Symposium, which borrowed the name “Breakthrough” from her monumental sculpture as the theme for this year’s event. Sandys spoke about the genesis of her sculpture to a standing-room-only audience. November 9th will make the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the historical event that—together with her grandfather’s 1946 “Iron Curtain” speech—inspired the sculpture.

In awarding the Churchill Fellowship to Albright, Sandys referenced the occasion:

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“30 years ago, the Berlin Wall came down … unexpectedly overnight. Mr. Gorbachev heeded President Reagan’s words, ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.’ Secretary Albright, you have devoted your life to breaking down barriers that divide. You have built bonds and bridges to form alliances for prosperity. You have indeed created ‘Sinews of Peace,’ the original title of my grandfather’s speech. And so, on behalf of the Association of Churchill Fellows of the National Churchill Museum, I am proud to honor you for your contributions to freedom, democracy and liberty. Your work as a stateswoman—a great stateswoman—remains a breakthrough for our country and for the world. It is my honor to present to you this medal and certificate, making you a member of the Association of Churchill Fellows.”

Established in 1969, the Association of Churchill Fellows is an honorary society of people dedicated to the development and use of America’s National Churchill Museum at Westminster College. Past Fellow inductees include Churchill’s namesake grandson, Winston Churchill; Walter Cronkite; President Dwight D. Eisenhower; Lady Soames; Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; Jon Meacham; and The Right Honorable Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

Photo: Dr. Madeleine Albright, Dr. Fletcher Lamkin, The Hon. Edwina Sandys MBE