(The Guardian) Gymnast Simon Biles, actor Denzel Washington, the late Apple founder, Steve Jobs, soccer player Megan Rapinoe, the late Arizona senator John McCain, and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords are among the 17 people who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom this month.
It is the nation’s highest civil honor, presented by the president to individuals who have “demonstrate(d) the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation – hard work, perseverance, and faith,” the White House said in a press release.
Biden will present the awards during a ceremony at the White House on 7 July.
Recipients also include barrier-breaking activists and lawmakers such as Sister Simone Campbell, a Catholic social justice advocate, Fred Gray, one of the first black members of the Alabama State legislature, Diane Nash, a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Richard Trumka, the late leader of the AFL-CIO, and Khizr Khan, a Gold Star father who rose to prominence when he challenged Trump’s commitment to the Constitution.
Here are the other names of individuals who will receive the presidential medal of freedom next week.
--Julieta García, the former president of The University of Texas at Brownsville and the first Hispanic woman to serve as a college president
--Father Alexander Karloutsos, the former Vicar General of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
--Sandra Lindsay, a New York critical care nurse who was the first American to receive a COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trial.
--Alan Simpson, a former Republican senator from Wyoming who advocated for campaign finance reform, responsible governance, and marriage equality.
--Wilma Vaught, one of the most decorated women in the history of the US military.
--Raúl Yzaguirre, a civil rights advocate who served as CEO and president of National Council of La Raza
It is the nation’s highest civil honor, presented by the president to individuals who have “demonstrate(d) the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation – hard work, perseverance, and faith,” the White House said in a press release.
Biden will present the awards during a ceremony at the White House on 7 July.
Recipients also include barrier-breaking activists and lawmakers such as Sister Simone Campbell, a Catholic social justice advocate, Fred Gray, one of the first black members of the Alabama State legislature, Diane Nash, a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Richard Trumka, the late leader of the AFL-CIO, and Khizr Khan, a Gold Star father who rose to prominence when he challenged Trump’s commitment to the Constitution.
Here are the other names of individuals who will receive the presidential medal of freedom next week.
--Julieta García, the former president of The University of Texas at Brownsville and the first Hispanic woman to serve as a college president
--Father Alexander Karloutsos, the former Vicar General of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
--Sandra Lindsay, a New York critical care nurse who was the first American to receive a COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trial.
--Alan Simpson, a former Republican senator from Wyoming who advocated for campaign finance reform, responsible governance, and marriage equality.
--Wilma Vaught, one of the most decorated women in the history of the US military.
--Raúl Yzaguirre, a civil rights advocate who served as CEO and president of National Council of La Raza
