Certificate of Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to General Colin L. Powell
date: label: Date
content: July 3, 1991
name: label: Published by
content: The White House, founded 1792
label: Issued by
content: President George H. W. Bush, American, born 1924
label: Owned by
content: General Colin L. Powell, American, 1937 - 2021
notes: label: Caption
content: General Colin Powell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on July 3, 1991, by President George H. W. Bush. Along with the Congressional Gold Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States. General Powell was awarded a second Presidential Medal of Freedom, with distinction, in 1993.
label: Description
content: A large certificate for the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President George H. W. Bush, to General Colin L. Powell. This cream cardstock, matte certificate, was awarded to General Powell July 3, 1991. At the top center is the presidential seal (Great Seal), printed in gold. In large black and gold ornate script and print throughout, the certificate reads: [The President of the United States of America / Awards this / Presidential Medal of Freedom / to / GENERAL COLIN L. POWELL, USA / In a long and distinguished career in the United States Army, culminating / in his service as Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell has provided / unsurpassed leadership and judgment in difficult times. A deft manager and / forthright counselor, he personifies the ideal of the soldier-statesman, serving the / President and the Nation with personal integrity, political judgment, and military / skill. As the architect and manager of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, / he oversaw the vindication of principle, the defense of Saudi Arabia, and the liberation / of Kuwait. The United States honors this professional servant of peace and freedom. / The White House / Washington, D.C., July 3, 1991]. The certificate is signed by President George H. W. Bush and there are no markings on the reverse side.
place: label: Place made
content: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
label: Place collected
content: McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Government
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: Military
label: Topic
content: Persian Gulf War, 1991
label: Topic
content: Politics
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1969-2001
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Awards, Medals, and Insignia
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: A2022.101.1.5.2
objectType: label: Type
content: certificates
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No known copyright restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: ink on paper
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (certificate): 11 × 13 15/16 in. (27.9 × 35.4 cm)