America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 205 Honorary Citizen and Medal of Freedom

Burbank High School, at the main entrance.

The LAPD alert has been lifted, and since dawn, Los Angeles residents have been coming to lay flowers and mourn the victims.

A very ordinary Volkswagen was parked on the side of the road. Martin got out of the car, holding a bunch of flowers. He walked to the school gate with a heavy expression, took off his sunglasses, and placed the flowers in the memorial area.

Like the others who laid flowers at the same time, I observed a moment of silence facing the direction of the campus.

Many people around him looked at him, and quite a few recognized Martin.

An elderly woman with white hair opened her arms and walked toward Martin, who gently embraced her.

"Child, don't be too sad, you've done very well," the old woman comforted Martin. "May God bless each and every one of us."

Martin parted from the old woman, his expression somber, his eyes red, seemingly still immersed in grief.

Others came over, some shaking hands with Martin, others hugging him, offering words of comfort.

"You've done your best."

"Child, you are a hero."

No one can do it better than you.

Martin remained silent, as if he were about to be crushed by heavy pain.

At such a place of mourning with flowers, media reporters are naturally present, capturing everything that happens with their cameras.

When a reporter came over to interview him, Martin politely declined.

Martin walked towards the car, leaving the camera with only his back to the camera.

His back was slightly hunched, as if he were carrying the weight of the entire city of Los Angeles.

The Volkswagen drove away, and many entertainment reporters and paparazzi followed it.

Soon, the car stopped in front of a famous psychological clinic, and Martin, accompanied by his agent Thomas, went into the clinic.

"Even the strongest man has moments of weakness," a female reporter said to her assistant. "I hope he doesn't develop any mental health issues."

After taking the photos, the somewhat sleazy assistant maliciously speculated, "Is he faking this? He's actually perfectly fine; he's actually quite happy about his skyrocketing fame."

The female reporter said, "He saved 16 people! No matter what you say, that fact remains."

Martin was perfectly fine psychologically, but Thomas was worried and asked him to see a psychologist. Considering the practical need, Martin only chatted with the psychologist for a few minutes.

Thomas received a phone call, and after Martin came out and got into the car, he said, "The company just received a call from Coca-Cola headquarters. Coca-Cola wants to invite you to be their North American spokesperson."

Bruce, who was driving, couldn't help but laugh: "The Coca-Cola Cult!"

"Talking is fine, but don't make it public immediately." Releasing the news now would give the public the impression of profiting from tragedy, Martin cautioned. "What I've done has been high-profile enough; try to be a little more low-key in your personal life."

Thomas understood Martin's meaning: "Negotiations won't be that quick. This is just initial contact. It will take some time to reach an agreement. I'll accompany you to Atlanta to film a movie in a few days, which will be a good opportunity to negotiate with Coca-Cola."

Martin certainly wouldn't refuse Coca-Cola; given the current status of the Coca-Cola cult, he'd demand a seven-figure endorsement fee.

Everyone says he's a hero of Los Angeles, but a hero of Los Angeles doesn't even own a house in Los Angeles.

Bruce glanced at the time and turned on the car radio.

The White House's young Bush will deliver a televised address at 10:30 a.m. regarding the Burbank High School incident.

…………

Washington, D.C., White House Press Office.

Speaking to the camera, Bush said with deep sorrow that many families had experienced the worst nightmare yesterday, the nation lowered flags to half-mast in mourning, and promised that the authorities would take stronger measures to protect the safety of schools and students.

When asked about gun control, Bush said directly, "In reality, I can't do as much as Martin Davis did. He was able to take down the gunman and save 16 people, while I can do nothing but pray and mourn."

Another reporter said, "Mourning and prayers cannot stop bullets."

Bush found the perfect scapegoat: "Martin Davis prevented the tragedy from escalating." He forcefully changed the subject: "I'm so glad to see a hero like Martin Davis stepping forward. He's a young man who represents the hope of America, and I recommend he be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom!"

This is the Medal of Honor, the highest civilian honor in the United States, awarded annually by the President.

The reporters' attention immediately shifted to Martin Davis, and they stopped asking those difficult and pointless questions about gun control.

After the press conference, the White House forwarded Martin's information to the Committee of Outstanding Civil Servants, who nominated a list of candidates, and then Bush made the final decision.

…………

In a villa in Los Angeles, Julie watched the live news broadcast on television and fell into deep thought.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is practically the highest federal honor a civilian can receive. The fact that Bush dared to mention it at a press conference wasn't just to ride on Martin Luther King Jr.'s coattails; he genuinely intended to do so.

After all, it's a medal approved by the president.

Julie was a little envious. How wonderful it would be if she could get her hands on this thing, how perfectly it would fit the path she was planning to take: to cultivate a sophisticated image outside of movies.

How many actors in Hollywood have received this honor?

Julie racked her brains, but she could only remember two people: Audrey Hepburn and the Black actress Sidney Poitier.

My phone rang; it was Brad Pitt calling.

"Hey, tonight? Isn't your wife home?" Julie's eyes were still glued to the TV, which was showing Martin's heroic rescue from yesterday on the news again. For some reason, she suddenly found Pete on the other end of the phone rather boring, so she made up an excuse: "I have a very important script discussion tonight, so I don't have time for our date. Let's do it another day."

Pete on the other side was very disappointed, but he didn't force the issue.

Julie put down her phone, picked up the remote, and kept changing channels. Martin's name and image appeared on almost every news channel.

Barring any major incidents, Martin and Burbank High School will likely remain prominent in the news for the next few days.

As Julie watched the news video of Martin smashing a Coke bottle against a thug, she unconsciously picked up her phone, dialed Martin's number, and said with a smile, "Mr. Martin, this is your student Angie. Do you have time today? I have many questions to ask you."

Martin's schedule was packed today, and he politely declined, saying, "I'm sorry, Angie, I'm very busy today. After what happened yesterday, there are a lot of problems to deal with."

"It's alright," Julie said with a smile, "when you have time."

There was someone speaking on the other end, so I hung up the phone.

Julie glanced at her phone, then put it on the sofa. She wasn't going to ride Martin's coattails anytime soon.

Originally, she wanted to take advantage of Martin's passion and, incidentally, ignite herself as well.

Julie stood up, went to the window, picked up a newspaper, and saw Martin.

Martin is everywhere.

Julie calmed herself down and told herself not to rush. Filming for "Wanted" was about to begin, and as a student, she had plenty of time to consult with Professor Martin.

…………

Two days later, at Los Angeles City Hall.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom has not yet been decided, and even if it is, it will be awarded before Independence Day.

But the honor bestowed by the city of Los Angeles was quickly confirmed.

In order to control public opinion, Los Angeles City Hall and the City Council granted the award to Martin himself as quickly as possible.

Martin, accompanied by Thomas, attended the memorial service at City Hall Square.

LAPD public relations expert McLean stayed by Martin's side throughout.

Before the event officially began, Martin and McLean were interviewed by television stations including the Los Angeles Times, WarnerMedia, CNN, and NBC on one side of the stage.

After three days of silence, Martin finally spoke up, offering a helping hand to the LAPD.

His voice was soft and hoarse, immediately suggesting overwhelming grief: "I've been wanting to express my gratitude to LAPD, but I've been having some mental issues these past few days and haven't been able to talk or communicate with anyone."

Many of the reporters present had personally witnessed Martin visiting a psychologist.

Martin said, "With the help of the doctors, I gradually recovered and was finally able to thank the LAPD. My companion and I were once trapped in a corner of the corridor by the gunman. At the most critical moment, it was the LAPD that rescued us."

McClain, who was standing nearby, immediately chimed in: "No, it was Martin who saved sixteen people, subdued two gunmen, and cooperated with the LAPD to kill the last gunman. The LAPD should express their gratitude to Martin!"

As for the tragedy, none of that matters. What matters is that Martin and the LAPD both deserve credit.

The memorial service began quickly, and after a moment of silence, Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa took the stage to speak: "For the past three days, the entire city of Los Angeles has been immersed in grief..."

He rambled on and on, wiping away tears as he spoke.

The top actors are all in politics.

Grief was not the theme of this event. Villalegoza added, "We cannot forget every victim, every injured person, every traumatized individual and family, nor can we forget those who helped Los Angeles. Martin Davis, an ordinary actor, an ordinary young man, bravely stood up in the face of a gunman's gun and saved 16 people. He is a hero, a hero of Los Angeles."

The mayor looked up, basking in the sunlight, as if seeing hope: "In that dark time, Martin Davis was like the sun! Los Angeles will forever remember Martin Davis, and on behalf of Los Angeles, I confer upon him the title of Honorary Citizen!"

Villalegoza said, "Please invite Martin Davis!"

McLean gave Martin a push, and Martin walked up to the podium and received the golden key symbolizing honorary citizenship from Antonio.

The entire square erupted in enthusiastic applause.

The public has seen the video and knows what Martin did; they believe their eyes.

Martin, holding the golden key, approached the microphone Villalegoza had given up, but what came out was: "I'm sorry, I tried my best..."

Before she could finish her sentence, tears streamed down her face: "I...I'm sorry, I can't go on..."

At this point, Martin turned and walked off the stage.

Silence fell over the square at first, then someone shouted, "Martin, you did a great job!"

"You should be proud!"

The sound was instantly drowned out by applause, which lasted for several minutes.

(End of this chapter)