This Thursday, President Joe Biden will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 citizens. First awarded in 1963, the Presidential Medal is the highest civilian honor and is bestowed by the president upon individuals who have contributed significantly to the overall well-being of the country.
This year, 17 citizens — including alive and deceased individuals from a wide spectrum of backgrounds — will receive the award. Some are athletes, others are advocates, and the list goes on and on. Yet, they all have one thing in common, the White House said. They all persevered to bring change to better the future of our nation.
The 17 honorees include gymnast Simon Biles, actor Denzel Washington, and nurse Sandra Lindsay.
Simon Biles, 25, is an American gymnast. She won a total of seven medals for the US team in the Olympics: four gold, one bronze, and two silver. Biles is also an advocate of mental health and sexual assault issues.
In December of 2020, Sandra Lindsay was the first person in America to receive the COVID vaccine outside of clinical trials. The nurse is also an advocate for COVID-19 vaccines.
The other honorees are Sister Simone Campbell, Julieta Garcia, Gabrielle Giffors, Fred Gray, Steve Jobs, Father Alexander Karloutos, Khizir Khan, Steve Jobs, John McCain, Diane Nash, Megan Rapinoe, Alan Simpson, Richard Trumka, Denzel Washington, Wilma Vaught, and Raúl Yzaguirre.
This year, 17 citizens — including alive and deceased individuals from a wide spectrum of backgrounds — will receive the award. Some are athletes, others are advocates, and the list goes on and on. Yet, they all have one thing in common, the White House said. They all persevered to bring change to better the future of our nation.
The 17 honorees include gymnast Simon Biles, actor Denzel Washington, and nurse Sandra Lindsay.
Simon Biles, 25, is an American gymnast. She won a total of seven medals for the US team in the Olympics: four gold, one bronze, and two silver. Biles is also an advocate of mental health and sexual assault issues.
In December of 2020, Sandra Lindsay was the first person in America to receive the COVID vaccine outside of clinical trials. The nurse is also an advocate for COVID-19 vaccines.
The other honorees are Sister Simone Campbell, Julieta Garcia, Gabrielle Giffors, Fred Gray, Steve Jobs, Father Alexander Karloutos, Khizir Khan, Steve Jobs, John McCain, Diane Nash, Megan Rapinoe, Alan Simpson, Richard Trumka, Denzel Washington, Wilma Vaught, and Raúl Yzaguirre.
