I added tags to this petition such as KKK, Healing and Unity, as well as a couple of others that I feel relevant to this petition.  I also updated the decision maker to be the president of the United States.  There is a federal organization called the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board which appears to have some authority over this award.  I have no contact information for this board, but I am looking into it.  Here is a helpful link.  I don't have additional information at this time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Civilian_Service_Awards_Board