Longtime actress Kim Delaney, star of the popular television series “Army Wives,” was escorted off stage at the National Constitution Center Thursday night after delivering a stilted, and at times unintelligible, speech for the Liberty Medal Award presentation to Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
It is unclear what was wrong with the television star, but she appeared disheveled as she struggled to read a speech, which partly described her character’s role on Army Wives, off of the teleprompter.
“As I try to comfort wives, husbands, families, fathers, children...loved ones, made good, what I’ve learned is the Constitution Center,” Delaney says.
Delaney’s long pauses and jumbled sentences were cut off when a voiceover came on and an employee wearing a head set came on the stage and walked Delaney away.
People in attendance said that it appeared the teleprompter was not working, reports KYW Newsradio.
The actress, who was born and raised in Philadelphia, is best known for her role on the series N.Y.P.D. Blue. She was asked to speak at the prestigious annual event that was in honor of 67-year-old Gates who served at defense secretary under Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama.
Gates presided over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and was involved in key decisions including the repeal of the “don't ask, don't tell” policy for gays in the military.
Since 1989, the Liberty Medal has been given annually to individuals or organizations whose actions strive to bring liberty to people worldwide.
