US President Barack Obama will felicitate his precursor Bill Clinton and renowned American media proprietor and talk show anchor Oprah Winfrey with America's highest civilian award tomorrow - The Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The esteemed honor is conferred to those Americans who have made momentous contributions towards national interests, national security, world peace, cultural endeavors, or private or public enterprise.
The awards will be conferred to them along with 16 other honorees in the White House tomorrow.
"The Presidential Medal of Freedom goes to men and women who have dedicated their own lives to enriching ours. This year's honorees have been blessed with extraordinary talent, but what sets them apart is their gift for sharing that talent with the world. It will be my honor to present them with a token of our nation's gratitude" Obama said in a statement on Thursday.
"This would be the 50th Anniversary of the Executive Order signed by President John F Kennedy establishing the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as the first ceremony bestowing the honor on an inaugural class of 31 recipients," reveals sources.
Since the time of its inception, more than 500 exceptional Americans have been granted the top honor.
"Among other recipients are Ernie Banks, one of the greatest baseball players of all time; Ben Bradlee, one of the most respected newsmen of his generation; Daniel Kahneman, a pioneering scholar of psychology; former Senator Richard Lugar; country music legend, Loretta Lynn; Mario Molina, a visionary chemist and environmental scientist; Arturo Sandoval, celebrated jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer," revealed a source.
(AW: Suchorita Dutta)
