MINNEAPOLIS -- Justice Alan Page is back home after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday.
He celebrated Monday morning with the students at Justice Page Middle School. In 2017, students renamed the Minneapolis school after him.
"I couldn't think of a better place to be this morning and to be able to share the honor and recognition with the students here," Page said.
The Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer and retired Minnesota Supreme Court justice received the nation's highest civilian honor from President Donald Trump.
While wearing the Medal of Freedom around his neck, Page answered questions on stage from some of the students selected to be a part of the new Junior Page Scholar program. The program is modeled after the Page Education Foundation's program for high school graduates.
Page and his late wife, Diane Sims Page, founded the Page Education Foundation in 1988 to uplift young students of color. So far, it has provided scholarships to nearly 7,000 students.
"While I am honored to be recognized, it is clear to me that I'm no better than anyone else," Page said.
One student asked him, "What would Diane think of this medal?" Page paused before saying, "She would be over the moon."
Principal Erin Rathke saved a chair with a rose on it for Diane.
"Every time I stand up here, she sits there. And I say, 'Welcome to Justice Page School' and she blows me a kiss. And so today, I didn't get to do that with her. So I made a special spot so I could blow her one," Rathke said.
The gesture moved Page to tears.
"It's been, as you can imagine, an emotional few weeks... to be able to be here today with these students though, it's become like family," Page said.
A student asked him how it was meeting the president. Page mentioned that, on some level, it was a challenge not because of the president's political views but "some of the things he's said and done with respect to issues of race, with respect to issues of justice, with respect to issues that affect all of us, particularly young people."
But Page went on to say that it was important to him to be there, adding, "My ancestors came to this country in the belly of a slave ship. It struck me as very important to be a representative for them at the White House, which is the People's House. It is your house. It is my house. And it's important for those values, those beliefs, and those people to be represented there."
Another student asked him after the celebration what goals he is still working to achieve. He responded with, "I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to go when I grow up, just like you are."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced a proclamation from Governor Mark Dayton, calling Nov. 19, 2018 as "Justice Alan C. Page Day" in Minnesota.
While speaking to the students on stage, Page said, "Each one of you has the ability to be sitting here, doing the same thing that I am doing, down the road. You have that power within you. You're going to be tomorrow's leaders."