Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy - An American Icon

There is something to be said about a man that came from such a strong Irish Bostonian family.
He was the youngest child of the Kennedy family, Joseph Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald.

A man that, along with his brothers, literally made sacrifices for the greater cause - the American People.

Known as "The Lion of the Senate", along with his brothers, the late President John F. Kennedy and the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, set in motion - Change. They were three brothers from Boston, Mass., that believed in America. Oh, they made mistakes. The Kennedy brothers never professed to be perfect. They were men that lived their lives and still roared like lions when it was time to step up and protect "The People".

Senator Edward Kennedy, was the second most senior member of the Senate, after Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and the third longest serving Senator in the United States of America's history. Wow. That speaks volumes.

" The Lion of the Senate" fought to bring about better education, immigration reform, national service, the minimum wage, equal rights for minorities and gays. He also pushed for the first major legislation to combat A.I.D.S/HIV and championed the legislature to end Apartheid in South Africa.

President Obama said, “For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health, and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.”

The Kennedy Family have certainly assisted America in the area of Civil Rights.
The average African American no longer has to live and work in second class conditions, thus living a better quality of life because of the fine fight that the Kennedys' fought during the 60's - no longer being treated as second class citizens in America. California's First Lady, Maria Shriver, still fights for Civil Rights down to this very day.

Senator Edward Kennedy worked tirelessly to bring about affordable health care for all Americans, and called the health care "the cause of my life". As a result, he succeeded in bringing quality and affordable health care for so many - children and seniors and people with disabilities. Senator Ted Kennedy's dream was to bring about Health Care Reform for Americans in the form of Universal Health Care.

Edward Kennedy fought for his life, up until the end, battling cancer.
He gave up the fight last evening, August 25, 2009, just before midnight.

Rest in Peace, Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy (1932-2009).

C