On July 7, U.S. President Joe Biden is handing out 17 Presidential Medal of Freedoms at the White House. These medals are the highest honor a civilian can receive.
The medal of freedom is awarded by the President and is given to those who have performed “An especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
This year, Biden has curated a list of 17 recipients to receive the medal of honor, including individuals like Denzel Washington, Simone Biles, and John McCain, the Arizona senator that served with Biden in the U.S. Senate.
A statement from the White House says that the recipients of this medal “have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities, and across the world, while blazing trails for generations to come”
The 17 recipients of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom include:
● Simone Biles, the most decorated Gymnast in America and an advocate of athletes’ safety, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault.
● Sister Simone Campbell is a prominent advocate for economic justice, immigration reform, and healthcare policy.
● Dr. Julieta García is a prominent trailblazer, as she was the first Hispanic woman to be a college president.
● Gabrielle Giffords was a survivor of gun violence causing her to devote her life to gun violence prevention.
● Fred Gray was a Prominent Attorney as he represented Rosa Parks, the NAACP, and Martin Luther King.
● Steve Jobs’ (died in 2011) creative mind led to inventions that transformed the tech industries.
● Father Alexander Karloutsos provided counsel to several U.S. presidents; he was named by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as a Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
● Khizr Khan is a Gold Star father and is a leading advocate for the rule of law and religious freedom.
● Sandra Lindsay was a frontline nurse battling COIVD-19, she was also the first to get a vaccine outside of clinical trials, she is an advocate for vaccines and mental health for health care workers.
● John McCain (died in 2018) was a public servant who was awarded a Purple Heart with a gold star and was a Republican nominee in 2008.
● Diane Nash helped organize prominent civil rights campaigns and worked closely with Martin Luther King.
● Megan Rapinoe is an Olympic gold bearer and a leading advocate for gender pay equality, racial justice, and LGBTQI+ rights.
● Alan Simpson served as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming for 18 years, during this time, he was a prominent advocate for campaign finance reform, responsible governance, and marriage equality.
● Richard Trumka (died in 2021) was the president of the United Mine Workers and secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, he was also a leading advocate for social and economic justice.
● Brigadier General Wilma Vaught was a trailblazer for women as she broke tons of gender barriers as she rose through the ranks of the military. By the time she retired, she was one of seven generals that were women.
● Denzel Washington is a decorated actor, director, and producer. He also served as a spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over 25 years.
● Raúl Yzaguirre CEO and president of the National Council of La Raza for 30 years, mainly advocated for civil rights.
The medal of freedom is awarded by the President and is given to those who have performed “An especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
This year, Biden has curated a list of 17 recipients to receive the medal of honor, including individuals like Denzel Washington, Simone Biles, and John McCain, the Arizona senator that served with Biden in the U.S. Senate.
A statement from the White House says that the recipients of this medal “have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities, and across the world, while blazing trails for generations to come”
The 17 recipients of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom include:
● Simone Biles, the most decorated Gymnast in America and an advocate of athletes’ safety, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault.
● Sister Simone Campbell is a prominent advocate for economic justice, immigration reform, and healthcare policy.
● Dr. Julieta García is a prominent trailblazer, as she was the first Hispanic woman to be a college president.
● Gabrielle Giffords was a survivor of gun violence causing her to devote her life to gun violence prevention.
● Fred Gray was a Prominent Attorney as he represented Rosa Parks, the NAACP, and Martin Luther King.
● Steve Jobs’ (died in 2011) creative mind led to inventions that transformed the tech industries.
● Father Alexander Karloutsos provided counsel to several U.S. presidents; he was named by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as a Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
● Khizr Khan is a Gold Star father and is a leading advocate for the rule of law and religious freedom.
● Sandra Lindsay was a frontline nurse battling COIVD-19, she was also the first to get a vaccine outside of clinical trials, she is an advocate for vaccines and mental health for health care workers.
● John McCain (died in 2018) was a public servant who was awarded a Purple Heart with a gold star and was a Republican nominee in 2008.
● Diane Nash helped organize prominent civil rights campaigns and worked closely with Martin Luther King.
● Megan Rapinoe is an Olympic gold bearer and a leading advocate for gender pay equality, racial justice, and LGBTQI+ rights.
● Alan Simpson served as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming for 18 years, during this time, he was a prominent advocate for campaign finance reform, responsible governance, and marriage equality.
● Richard Trumka (died in 2021) was the president of the United Mine Workers and secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, he was also a leading advocate for social and economic justice.
● Brigadier General Wilma Vaught was a trailblazer for women as she broke tons of gender barriers as she rose through the ranks of the military. By the time she retired, she was one of seven generals that were women.
● Denzel Washington is a decorated actor, director, and producer. He also served as a spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over 25 years.
● Raúl Yzaguirre CEO and president of the National Council of La Raza for 30 years, mainly advocated for civil rights.
