Statement on Secretary Lonnie Bunch and the Smithsonian

Photo courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

"The Smithsonian is more than a collection of museums; it is a keeper of America’s story, in all its complexity and promise. John Lewis understood the power of history: that we must remember where we have been to understand where we are going.

Thank you, Secretary Lonnie Bunch, for your extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to preserving our history, educating future generations, and ensuring that every American can see themselves in our national story. Your service has left a lasting impact.

The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation was proud to award you the John Lewis Carry On Award in 2025, as we share that same conviction: that preserving history is essential to understanding our present and building a more just and inclusive future.

That work matters now more than ever."

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