News / Entertainment
President George Bush Presents Ten Civilians with Medal of Freedom
The Medal of Freedom was originally established by Harry Truman in 1945 as a means of recognizing exemplary service in World War II. The Medal was reintroduced by President John F Kennedy in 1963 as a means of honoring service among civilians in peacetime. The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor bestowed in the United States and President George Bush handed out ten today.
Bush handed out the Medals earlier this afternoon inside the White House. Among those receiving the Medal of Freedom:
Literacy Volunteers of America founder, Ruth Johnson Colvin, who has traveled the world teaching and creating literacy programs for individuals in need.
Human Rights advocate and Religious Freedom proponent, Natan Sharansky, who spent nine years in a Soviet prison for supporting individual freedom in the former Soviet Union.
Norman Francis, who held the position of president at Xavier University in Louisiana for 40 years, worked closely with religious groups as well as educational and civil rights organizations. Francis was instrumental in the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.
Paul Johnson, the British historian and journalist, was recognized for his work in education surrounding Judaism and Christianity.
Presidential biographer and Pulitzer-Prize-winning author David McCullough was honored for his work in education surrounding American history.
Legendary Blues singer and guitarist B.B. King was recognized for his 50+ years of entertaining through music.
Nobel Prize winner Joshua Lederberg was bestowed the Medal of Freedom for his work surrounding bacterial genetics and his development of advanced computer technology used to search for life on Mars.
Former transportation secretary Norman Mineta was honored for his years of service in which he carried himself with integrity and courage.
Pulitzer-Prize-winning columnist William Safire was awarded the Medal of Freedom for his educational writings and defense of human freedoms.
A posthumous Medal of Freedom was Awarded to Buck O’Neil who worked towards the advancement of integration in Major League Baseball. O’Neil became MLB’s first African-American coach.
