President Obama will be handing out the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a diverse group of 15. The President Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the US, and is given to people who “have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” according to the White House.
Among the more notable individuals to be awarded are President George H.W. Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, poet Maya Angelou, billionaire Warren Buffet, and basketball legend Bill Russell.
President George H.W. Bush will be honored for his military service, work in government, and for his efforts helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.
Chancellor Merkel will receive the award for being the first woman and first East German to be Chancellor since the nation became unified about 20 years ago.
In a statement released by President Obama, he said, “These outstanding honorees come from a broad range of backgrounds and they’ve excelled in a broad range of fields, but all of them have lived extraordinary lives that have inspired us, enriched our culture, and made our country and our world a better place,”.
The others to receive the award include Jim Lewis, John H. Adams, Jasper Johns, Gerda Weissman Klein, Tom Little, Yo-Yo Mama, Sylvia Mendez, Stan Musial, Jean Kennedy Smith and John J. Sweeney.
The awards will be presented early next year at the White House.
