Honors

President Obama has offered Britain's Queen Elizabeth II the "heartfelt congratulations of the American people" on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee (watch video below). In a video message, Obama said the queen was a "living witness" to the power of the special relationship between the U.S. and U.K., and the "chief source of its resilience. " "As a steadfast ally, loyal friend and tireless leader, Your Majesty has set an example of resolve that will be long celebrated," Obama said.

On Dec. 16, 1944, 21-year-old Army Cpl. Gordon Hearne found himself in an hours-long gun battle with German soldiers in the Belgium countryside — one of countless such stories that marked the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, Germany's last major offensive and a turning point in World War II. On Saturday, Hearne, now 87, was formally thanked by King Albert II of Belgium for his service. In a ceremony at Taix French Restaurant in Echo Park, Hearne was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Crown by Belgium's consul general in Los Angeles.

Malik Bendjelloul's  "Searching for Sugar Man" won the Best Feature Award at the International Documentary Assn.'s 2012 IDA Documentary Awards at the Directors Guild of America on Friday evening. The acclaimed chronicle about Sixto Rodriguez, a  U.S. singer-songwriter who failed to catch on in the 1970s, only to become the voice of a whole generation in Apartheid-era South Africa, also won the Creative Recognition Award for Best Music for Rodriguez's original songs and Bendjelloul's additional score.

Beneath patriotic banners of red, white and blue, Jane Arellano looked out at the sea of faces in front of her. They were faces of the young and old, etched with hope and anticipation, representing myriad countries, cultures and languages, all united by the singular dream of becoming an American citizen this day. "We have the honor of being part of your journey from the day you arrived to today," Arellano told the 3,000 new citizens from more...

The legacy of Harvey Milk has had a very good year. Three decades after California's first openly gay elected leader was gunned down in San Francisco City Hall, Milk has been celebrated by an Oscar-winning film, named to the state Hall of Fame and lauded by President Obama. But despite those posthumous accolades, a legislative push to create a day of recognition for Milk became one of the most contentious issues in the Capitol this year. The proposal, which passed the Legislature on Thursday, is among more than a dozen gay rights bills offered in the aftermath of Proposition 8, last November's ballot initiative that outlawed same-sex marriage in California.

Tim Tift, lecturer in the UCI education department, has received the UCI Extension Distinguished Faculty Award. Tift received the award during an annual ceremony last month in the Social Sciences Auditorium at UCI. The award honors an instructor who demonstrates unparalleled support of UCI Extension programs within the community and provides guidance in pursuing new academic directions and approaches. Tift has been teaching for UCI Extension and the social sciences division since 1996.

Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young will deliver the commencement address May 15 at the University of Notre Dame, the university announced Wednesday. Young also will receive an honorary doctor of law degree.

Japan on Monday bestowed the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on former U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger for his contribution to Japan's defense, the Foreign Ministry said.

Westview Vocational Services, which assists adults with disabilities, recently recognized several people for their service. Honors went to Colleen Berg, Sherry Redinger and Tinh Cao, Regional Center of Orange County; James Bisetti, Orange public works department; James Bradford, Choice R Us in Downey; and, Margie Cooper and Gerald Tapia, Department of Rehabilitation.

TV producer Norman Lear and author Maya Angelou will be the 2008 recipients of the Marian Anderson Award, which honors artists whose leadership benefits humanity. They are to accept their honors, each with an accompanying $100,000 honorarium, at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia on Nov. 17. Angelou, 80, has written more than a dozen bestsellers, including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Lear, 86, was creator, producer and writer for television series that became cultural landmarks, including "All in the Family," "Sanford and Son," "The Jeffersons" and "Maude."