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Former President George H. W. Bush To Receive Medal of Freedom

George Herbert Walker Bush is one of fifteen award recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom award.

The Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals 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.

Bush was the 41st President of the United States. Prior to that, he was Vice President in the Reagan Administration, Director of Central Intelligence, Chief of the U.S. Liaison’s Office to the People’s Republic of China, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and a Member of the House of Representatives from the 7th District of Texas. He served in the Navy during World War II. President Bush and President Clinton worked together to encourage aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

Other named recipients include Boston Celtics' Bill Russell, Congressman John Lewis, Chancellor Angela Merkel (Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany), Dr. Maya Angelou, John H. Adams (Natural Resources Defense Council), Warren Buffett, and artist Jasper Johns.

“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.  I look forward to awarding them this honor”, said President Obama.
The awards will be presented at a White House ceremony early next year.

President Obama awarded Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta with the prestigious Medal of Honor award yesterday in a ceremony in the East Room.

The Medal of Honor has been awarded nine times for conspicuous gallantry in an ongoing or recent conflict. Staff Seargeant Giunta is the first recipient in nearly 40 years to receive the honor in person. Other recipients received the award posthumously.

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