Former Polish President Lech Walesa is headed back to his homeland after visiting Illinois this week.
He's the latest winner of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation's Lincoln Leadership Award.
Walesa toured the presidential library and museum in Springfield Friday. Foundation C-E-O Carla Knorowski says there are many parallels between Walesa and Lincoln. She says both came from humble beginnings and rose to their nation's highest office. Knorowski says they both have great senses of humor. But most of all they are both most recognized for fighting tyranny and suppression and fighting for social justice.
An exhibit about Walesa is on display at The Lincoln presidential museum through March 5th. Walesa was the first democratically elected leader of Poland after communist rule.
Previous recipients of the Lincoln Leadership Award include Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the late television journalist Tim Russert.
