2025 Democracy Service Medal—Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas
The 2025 Democracy Service Medal was bestowed posthumously to Oswaldo Payá in recognition of his life’s work and sacrifice for freedom in Cuba. Accepting on his behalf were his wife, Ofelia Acevedo, and daughter, Rosa María Payá—who reflect the resilience of a family and a movement that continues to confront authoritarianism in pursuit of justice. Oswaldo Payá embodied the extraordinary power of…