Presidential Medal of Freedom

The **Presidential Medal of Freedom** is an award given by the President of the United States. It recognizes those individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors". The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform.

It was established in 1963 and replaced the earlier Medal of Freedom that was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945.

## Gallery

Image: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 Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony in 1985
Image:StromThurmond GeorgeBush.jpg|Strom Thurmond being honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George Bush in 1993
Image:Margaret Thatcher awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom.jpg|Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H. W. Bush in 1991
Image:GHW Bush presents Reagan Presidential Medal of Freedom 1993.jpg|George H. W. Bush awarding former President Ronald Reagan the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction in January 1993
File:Presidential Medal of Freedom.jpg |Edgar M. Bronfman receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton in 1999
Image:Blair MOF.jpg|Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush on January 13, 2009
Image:George W. Bush and John Howard, 2009.jpg|Former Prime Minister of Australia John Howard receiving the Medal from George W. Bush on January 13, 2009
File:Griffith, Andy (Whitehouse).jpg|Andy Griffith receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, August 2005
File:Barack Obama speaks to Stephen Hawking.jpg| President Barack Obama talks with Stephen Hawking in the Blue Room of the White House before a ceremony presenting him and 15 others the Presidential Medal of Freedom, August 12, 2009.
File:Merkel an Obama Presidential Medal of Freedom.jpg| Angela Merkel being honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, August 2010
File:President Donald J. Trump Presents Medal of Freedom for Elvis Presley to Jack Soden - 45863432702.jpg| President Donald Trump posthumously awards Elvis Presley the Presidential Medal of Freedom, November 2018
Image:President Trump Presents the Medal of Freedom to Bob Cousy (48602862221).jpg|Bob Cousy receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump in August 2019
File:Joe Biden presents the Medal of Freedom to Simon Biles.jpg|Olympic champion Simone Biles receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in 2022
File:President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Freedom to Nancy Pelosi.jpg|President Joe Biden awarding former U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2024

## Related pages
* Congressional Gold Medal
* Medal of Freedom
* List of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients

## References
## Other websites
*"Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients", a list of recipients from May 5, 1993, through August 19, 2009, from senate.gov, the U.S. Senate's official website. Accessed August 22, 2009.