President Obama announced fifteen recipients of the 2010 Medal of Freedom, 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. Among the recipients are George H.W. Bush, 41st president of the U.S., German Chancellor Angela Merkel, civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis and billionaire investor, Warren Buffett.
In making the announcement, President Obama 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. I look forward to awarding them this honor next year.”
Below is a full list of honorees of the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom:
- President George H. W. Bush
- Chancellor Angela Merkel
- Congressman John Lewis
- John H. Adams
- Maya Angelou
- Warren Buffett
- Jasper Johns
- Gerda Weissmann Klein
- Dr. Tom Little (Posthumous)
- Yo-Yo Ma
- Sylvia Mendez
- Stan Musial
- Bill Russell
- Jean Kennedy Smith
- John J. Sweeney
