Presidential Medal of Freedom

President John F. Kennedy established the presidential version of the decoration in 1963 through (signed February 22, 1963), with unique and distinctive insignia, vastly expanded purpose, and far higher prestige. It was the first U.S. civilian neck decoration and, if awarded with Distinction, is the only U.S. sash and star decoration (the Chief Commander degree of the Legion of Merit—which may be awarded to foreign heads of state only—is a star decoration but without a sash). The executive order calls for the medal to be awarded annually on or around July 4, and at other convenient times as chosen by the president, The order establishing the medal also expanded the size and the responsibilities of the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board so it could serve as a major source of such recommendations. Ellsworth Bunker received both of his awards with Distinction. It may also be awarded posthumously; examples include John F. Kennedy, Steve Jobs, Pope John XXIII, Lyndon Johnson, John Wayne, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Thurgood Marshall, Cesar Chavez, Walter Reuther, Roberto Clemente, Jack Kemp, Harvey Milk, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, Elouise Cobell, Grace Hopper, Charlie Kirk, Antonin Scalia, Elvis Presley and Babe Ruth. Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner, civil rights workers murdered in 1964, were awarded their medals by President Obama 50 years later. In 1970, President Richard Nixon awarded the medal to the entire Apollo 13 mission operations team, as well as to the mission's crew. Athlete and activist Simone Biles is the youngest person to receive this award at the age of 25. ==Insignia==

, miniature and lapel badge The badge of the Presidential Medal of Freedom is in the form of a golden star with white enamel, with a red enamel pentagon behind it; the central disc bears thirteen gold stars on a blue enamel background (taken from the Great Seal of the United States) within a golden ring. Golden bald eagles with spread wings stand between the points of the star. It is worn around the neck on a blue ribbon having white edge stripes. Women may choose to receive the award as a bow worn on the left chest (as for Margaret Thatcher). A special and rarely granted award, called the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, has a larger version of the same badge, which is worn as a star on the left chest. It comes with a sash that is worn over the right shoulder (similarly to the Grand Cross of an order of chivalry), with its rosette (blue with a white edge, bearing the central disc of the badge at its center) resting on the left hip. When the medal with Distinction is awarded, the star may be presented hanging from a neck ribbon and can be identified by its size, which is larger than the standard badge. In addition to the full-size insignia, the award is accompanied by a service ribbon for wear on military service uniforms, a miniature medal pendant for wear on mess dress or civilian formal wear, and a lapel badge for wear on civilian clothes, all of which comes in the full presentation set. There is a silver bald eagle with spread wings on the miniature and service ribbon, or a golden bald eagle for a medal awarded with Distinction. The Insignia was designed by the Army's Institute of Heraldry, led by Col. Harry Downing Temple. ==Revocation==

There is no process for the award to be revoked. This issue has been raised regarding certain recipients, in particular regarding the award given to actor and comedian Bill Cosby, following allegations of sexual assault against him. ==Recipients==

Gallery File:A. Philip Randolph Medal of Freedom.jpg|A. Philip Randolph receiving the Medal from President Lyndon Johnson at one of the first ceremonies, 1964 File:Walt Disney Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom 1964.jpg|Walt Disney receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964 File:Richard Nixon and Duke Ellington 1969.jpg|President Richard Nixon presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Duke Ellington, 1969 File:President Gerald R. Ford Presents Martha Graham with the Presidential Medal of Freedom - NARA - 6829647.jpg|President Gerald Ford awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Martha Graham, 1976 File:Jimmy Carter presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Arthur Goldberg. - NARA - 180483.tif|Arthur Goldberg speaking at his ceremony where he was awarded the Medal by President Jimmy Carter, 1978 File:President Ronald Reagan presents Mother Teresa with the Medal of Freedom at a White House Ceremony in the Rose Garden.jpg|President Ronald Reagan presenting Mother Teresa with the award, 1985 File:Margaret Thatcher awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom.jpg|Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher receiving the award, in its unusual bow form, from President George H. W. Bush, 1991 File:President Bill Clinton presents Rosa Parks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the Oval Office.jpg|Rosa Parks receives the award from President Bill Clinton, 1996. File:President George W. Bush Presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award to Fred Rogers.jpg|Fred Rogers smiles as he receives the award from President George W. Bush, 2002. File:President Barack Obama presents American musician Bob Dylan with a Medal of Freedom (cropped).jpg|Bob Dylan receives the Medal from President Barack Obama, 2012. File:President Trump Presents the Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods (33919289198).jpg|President Donald Trump presents the Medal to Tiger Woods, 2019. File:P20220707AS-1318 (52307494932).jpg|President Joe Biden presenting the Medal to Sister Simone Campbell, 2022 File:F20240709ES-0417 (53848060613).jpg|President Joe Biden presents the Medal to Jens Stoltenberg, 2024. File:Erika Kirk accepts the Presidential Medal of Freedom.jpg|President Donald Trump presenting the medal to Erika Kirk, on behalf of her recently deceased husband Charlie Kirk, 2025 File:Connor Hellebuyck State of the Union 2026.png|President Donald Trump announces Connor Hellebuyck to receive the Medal of Freedom at the State of The Union, 2026. ==See also==