Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony

August 12, 2009

Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony President and Mrs. Obama participated in a ceremony for the 2009 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Obama praised the… read more

Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony President and Mrs. Obama participated in a ceremony for the 2009 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Obama praised the recipients and presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the honorees as their citations were read. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian award and recognizes exceptional meritorious service.

The recipients were: Nancy Goodman Brinker; Pedro Jose Greer, Jr., M.D.; Stephen Hawking; Jack Kemp (posthumous); Senator Edward Kennedy; Billie Jean King; Sidney Poitier; Sandra Day O’Connor; Harvey Milk (posthumous); Chita Rivera; Mary Robinson; Janet Davison Rowley; Desmond Tutu; Muhammad Yunus; Reverend Joseph Lowery; and Joseph Medicine Crow close

People in this video

Nancy G. Brinker Founder Komen (Susan G.) Breast Cancer Foundation
Pedro Jose Greer Dean University of Miami->School of Medicine

Stephen Hawking Professor University of Cambridge->Physics
Billie Jean King Tennis Player
Joseph E. Lowery President and CEO (Former) Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Joseph Medicine Crow Member Crow Tribe
Sandra Day O'Connor Associate Justice (Former) U.S. Supreme Court
Barack Obama U.S. President United States
Sidney Poitier Actor
Chita Rivera Entertainer
Mary Robinson President (Former) Ireland
Janet Rowley Professor University of Chicago->Biology and Genetics
Desmond Tutu Archbishop (Former) Cape Town, South Africa->Anglican Church
Muhammad Yunus Founder Grameen Bank (Bangladesh)