President Biden awards Presidential Medals of Freedom

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Presidential Medals of Freedom are the nation’s highest civilian honor. Friday, President Joe Biden draped the medals around the necks of this year’s recipients, 19 in all.

10 men and nine women are the latest recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom - for their lifetime of achievements in the worlds of politics, sports, entertainment, science, civil rights and religion. In the East Room of the White House, President Biden applauded their achievements.

“(Today), we have another extraordinary honor to bestow one of the nation’s highest civilian honors of 19 incredible people whose relentless curiosity, inventiveness, ingenuity, and hope have kept faith in a better tomorrow.”

Among those honored in the White House ceremony: former Vice President Al Gore, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman James Clyburn, television pioneer Phil Donahue and Katie Ledecky, the most decorated women’s swimmer in history.

“I’ll tell you what, it makes you proud to be an American, doesn’t it? Let’s give one more round of applause for this year’s recipients.”

The White House says those honored with the nation’s highest civilian honor consistently demonstrated over their careers the power of community, hard work, and service.

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