10 Receive America's Highest Civilian Award
From news services and staff reports
Friday, December 15, 2006; 1:04 PM
In a White House ceremony this morning, President Bush awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award,
to 10 distinguished Americans, calling them "some of the finest
citizens the Almighty has ever produced."
The award, first established President Harry Truman in 1945 to
honor civilians for their efforts during World War II, recognizes
high achievement in public service, science, the arts, education,
athletics, and other fields.
President George W. Bush, right, presents the medal to writer
William Safire, second from right, during a ceremony for the 2006
recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday in the
East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Other recipients on
stage include, from left to right, Ruth Johnson Colvin, Norman C.
Francis, Paul Johnson, Riley "B.B." King, Joshua Lederberg, David
McCullough and Norman Y. Mineta.
Transcript
President's Remarks at Medal of Freedom Ceremony
10:18 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Please be seated. Thank you all for
coming. Welcome. Mr. Vice President, members of my Cabinet, Laura
and I are please you could join us on this special occasion. We're
delighted to welcome our distinguished honorees, as well as their
families and friends to the White House. Thanks for coming.
...
Those receiving the awards today were:
-- Ruth Johnson Colvin. The literacy advocate has traveled the
globe to help people learn reading and language skills.
-- Norman C. Francis. The president of Xavier University of
Louisiana for nearly 40 years, he has also played a lead role in
helping the people of the Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane
Katrina.
-- Paul Johnson. The historian and journalist is being honored for
writings that have "captivated and educated people around the
world."
-- B.B. King. The singer and guitarist is considered the King of
Blues and an American legend.
-- Joshua Lederberg. The Nobel Prize winner for his work in
bacterial genetics had also helped develop advanced computer
technology, worked with NASA in the search for life on Mars, and
been a scientific adviser to national policymakers.
-- David McCullough. The noted author and historian is considered a
leading expert on the American presidency.
-- Norman Y. Mineta. The former transportation secretary, appointed
to that job by Bush, became the longest-serving person in the
position. He also served as a mayor, a congressman and as President
Bill Clinton's commerce secretary.
-- John "Buck" O'Neil. The former professional baseball player in
the Negro Leagues was the first black coach in Major League
Baseball and a co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. He
died earlier this year.
-- William Safire. The writer and commentator is being honored for
polishing the nation's language and elevating the debates of the
day.
-- Natan Sharansky. The former prisoner of the Soviet regime,
punished at the time for advancing religious liberty and human
rights, has continued to champion freedom. He had previously been
invited to the White House by Bush to discuss his book, "The Case
for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and
Terror."
The Medal of Freedom was established by President Harry S. Truman
in 1945 to recognize civilians for their efforts during World War
II. The award was reinstated by President John F. Kennedy in 1963
to honor distinguished service.
--
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/15/AR2006121500942.html
*William Safire is the New York Times columnist that LKY sued in
the past. 