President Barack Obama speaks during the Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony on Tuesday. The Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor. Among the recipients were three posthumous awardees, including Gordon Hirabayashi, who fought the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
President Barack Obama speaks during the Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony on Tuesday. The Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor. Among the recipients were three posthumous awardees, including Gordon Hirabayashi, who fought the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
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Juliette Gordon Low, American founder of the Girl Scouts, is another of the posthumous honorees. Along with the establishment of the American group, she is credited with creating a Girl Guides troop for girls working in factories in Scotland. The Girl Guides helped the young women set up a small business, enabling them to take money home to their families while avoiding the unhealthy working conditions of the factories.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
Juliette Gordon Low, American founder of the Girl Scouts, is another of the posthumous honorees. Along with the establishment of the American group, she is credited with creating a Girl Guides troop for girls working in factories in Scotland. The Girl Guides helped the young women set up a small business, enabling them to take money home to their families while avoiding the unhealthy working conditions of the factories.
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Jan Karski, the third and final posthumous recipient of the Medal of Freedom, served as an officer in the Polish Underground during World War II. Karski provided one of the first eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust to the world.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
Jan Karski, the third and final posthumous recipient of the Medal of Freedom, served as an officer in the Polish Underground during World War II. Karski provided one of the first eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust to the world.
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Israel's ninth president, Shimon Peres, advocates ardently for peace and security in Israel. Peres has served Israel in a variety of capacities as foreign minister, minister of defense, minister of transport and communications and as prime minister. He will receive his Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House dinner later this year.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
Israel's ninth president, Shimon Peres, advocates ardently for peace and security in Israel. Peres has served Israel in a variety of capacities as foreign minister, minister of defense, minister of transport and communications and as prime minister. He will receive his Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House dinner later this year.
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The third longest-running Supreme Court justice in United States history, John Paul Stevens served from 1975-2010. Stevens left his mark in the areas of civil rights, the First Amendment, the death penalty, administrative law and the separation of powers.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
The third longest-running Supreme Court justice in United States history, John Paul Stevens served from 1975-2010. Stevens left his mark in the areas of civil rights, the First Amendment, the death penalty, administrative law and the separation of powers.
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Toni Morrison was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize. Among her most famous works are "Song of Solomon," "Jazz" and "Beloved."
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
Toni Morrison was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize. Among her most famous works are "Song of Solomon," "Jazz" and "Beloved."
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Madeleine Albright served as the first female U.S. secretary of state from 1997-2001 under President Bill Clinton. While in office, she worked to expand NATO and helped lead the alliance's campaign against terror and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, pursued peace in the Middle East and Africa, sought to reduce the dangerous spread of nuclear weapons and was a champion of democracy, human rights and good governance across the globe.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
Madeleine Albright served as the first female U.S. secretary of state from 1997-2001 under President Bill Clinton. While in office, she worked to expand NATO and helped lead the alliance's campaign against terror and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, pursued peace in the Middle East and Africa, sought to reduce the dangerous spread of nuclear weapons and was a champion of democracy, human rights and good governance across the globe.
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John Doar served as assistant attorney general in charge of the civil rights department of the Justice Department. Among his many contributions to the civil rights movement, he singlehandedly prevented a riot in Jackson, Mississippi, after the funeral of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
John Doar served as assistant attorney general in charge of the civil rights department of the Justice Department. Among his many contributions to the civil rights movement, he singlehandedly prevented a riot in Jackson, Mississippi, after the funeral of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963.
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John Glenn's illustrious career as a Marine Corps pilot, astronaut and U.S. senator included being the first man to orbit the earth.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
John Glenn's illustrious career as a Marine Corps pilot, astronaut and U.S. senator included being the first man to orbit the earth.
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Bob Dylan's poetic lyrics worked considerable influence on the civil rights movement in the 1960s and is still very influential in American culture today.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
Bob Dylan's poetic lyrics worked considerable influence on the civil rights movement in the 1960s and is still very influential in American culture today.
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A physician and epidemiologist, William Foege helped lead the successful campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s. He was appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1977 and, with colleagues, founded the Task Force for Child Survival in 1984. Foege became executive director of The Carter Center in 1986 and continues to serve the organization as a senior fellow.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
A physician and epidemiologist, William Foege helped lead the successful campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s. He was appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1977 and, with colleagues, founded the Task Force for Child Survival in 1984. Foege became executive director of The Carter Center in 1986 and continues to serve the organization as a senior fellow.
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Dolores Huerta is a civil rights, workers and women's advocate. With Cesar Chavez, she co-founded the National Farmworkers Association in 1962, which later became the United Farm Workers of America. Huerta has served as a community activist and a political organizer and was influential in securing the passage of California's Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975 and disability insurance for farm workers in California.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
Dolores Huerta is a civil rights, workers and women's advocate. With Cesar Chavez, she co-founded the National Farmworkers Association in 1962, which later became the United Farm Workers of America. Huerta has served as a community activist and a political organizer and was influential in securing the passage of California's Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975 and disability insurance for farm workers in California.
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In addition to accomplishing an outstanding career as the all-time winningest leader among all NCAA basketball coaches, Pat Summitt has taken the University of Tennessee to more Final Four appearances than any other coach and has the second best record of NCAA championships in basketball.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony —
In addition to accomplishing an outstanding career as the all-time winningest leader among all NCAA basketball coaches, Pat Summitt has taken the University of Tennessee to more Final Four appearances than any other coach and has the second best record of NCAA championships in basketball.
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