President Biden Honors 19 Americans with Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to 19 distinguished Americans at a White House ceremony on Friday, May 3, 2024. The recipients hail from diverse backgrounds and fields, reflecting the president's priorities and allies.

Why this matters: This award ceremony highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating individuals who have made significant contributions to the country, inspiring others to strive for excellence and public service. The diverse range of recipients also underscores the value of inclusivity and representation in American society.

Among the honorees are several high-profile Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Baltimore native; Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, whose endorsement helped Biden secure the party's nomination in 2020; and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a one-time political rival turned financial backer. The list also features a bipartisan nod to former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a North Carolina Republican who served as a cabinet secretary under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.

The diverse group of recipients includes civil rights icons like Medgar Evers, who fought against segregation in Mississippi and was assassinated in 1963, and Opal Lee, an educator and activist instrumental in making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Olympic gold medalist swimmer Katie Ledecky, a Bethesda resident, and legendary Native American athlete Jim Thorpe, the first to win Olympic gold for the United States, will also be honored.

Other notable recipients include actress Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress; climate activists Al Gore and John Kerry; astronomer Jane Rigby, chief scientist of the James Webb Space Telescope at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt; and Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit Catholic priest who founded Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention and rehabilitation program.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom, established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, is awarded to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors. Presidents typically honor people who reflect their own priorities and allies. This marks the second time President Biden has awarded the medal, with the first group of recipients recognized in July 2022.

Key Takeaways

• President Biden awards 19 Americans the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 3, 2024.
• Recipients include Nancy Pelosi, James Clyburn, Michael Bloomberg, and civil rights icons Medgar Evers and Opal Lee.
• Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky, actress Michelle Yeoh, and climate activists Al Gore and John Kerry also honored.
• The medal recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the US, world peace, or other societal endeavors.
• This is President Biden's second time awarding the medal, with the first group recognized in July 2022.