Presidential Medal of Freedom

==Overview==
President [[John F. Kennedy]] established the presidential version of the decoration in 1963 through {{Executive Order|11085}} (signed February 22, 1963), with unique and distinctive insignia, vastly expanded purpose, and far higher prestige.<ref name="Executive Order 11085"/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/JFK-Fast-Facts/Presidential-Medal-of-Freedom.aspx| title=President Kennedy's Executive Order 11085: Presidential Medal of Freedom| website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum| access-date=August 29, 2017}}</ref> It was the first U.S. civilian [[neck order|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]]&mdash;which may only be awarded to foreign heads of state&mdash;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,<ref name="senate.gov"/> but it has not been awarded every year (e.g., 2001, 2010). Recipients are selected personally by the president, either on the president's own initiative or based on recommendations. 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.

[[Marian Anderson]] and [[Ralph Bunche]] received the first Medals of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy on July 4, 1963.

The medal may be awarded to an individual more than once; [[Colin Powell]] received two awards, his second being with Distinction;<ref>{{cite web |last=Clinton |first=W. J. |author-link=Bill Clinton |date=September 30, 1993 |title=Remarks on the Retirement of General Colin Powell in Arlington, Virginia |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-the-retirement-general-colin-powell-arlington-virginia |access-date=July 5, 2023 |website=The American Presidency Project; [[University of California, Santa Barbara]] |quote=In recognition of your legacy and service, of your courage and accomplishment, today, General Powell, I was honored to present you with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, with distinction. I want to tell all those here in attendance that this was the second Medal of Freedom you have received, the first from President Bush in 1991. And today, you became only the second American citizen in the history of the Republic to be the recipient of two Medals of Freedom.}}</ref> [[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]], [[Bear Bryant|Paul "Bear" Bryant]], [[Thurgood Marshall]], [[Cesar Chavez]], [[Walter Reuther]], [[Roberto Clemente]], [[Jack Kemp]], [[Harvey Milk]], [[James Chaney]], [[Andrew Goodman (activist)|Andrew Goodman]], [[Michael Schwerner]], [[Elouise Cobell]], [[Grace Hopper]],<ref name=twentysixteen>{{cite press release| url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/11/16/president-obama-names-recipients-presidential-medal-freedom/| title=President Obama Names Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom| publisher=The White House| access-date=August 19, 2023| via=[[National Archives and Records Administration]]| date=November 16, 2016}}</ref> [[Antonin Scalia]], [[Elvis Presley]] and [[Babe Ruth]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/10/politics/trump-presidential-medal-of-freedom/index.html| title=Trump to award Medal of Freedom to Elvis, Babe Ruth, among others| last=Stracqualursi| first=Veronica| work=[[CNN]]| access-date=November 11, 2018}}</ref> (Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner, civil rights workers murdered in 1964, were awarded their medals in 2014, 50 years later.)

Athlete and activist [[Simone Biles]] is the youngest person to receive this award at the age of 25.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/simone-biles-awarded-presidential-medal-freedom/story?id=86370058#:~:text=At%2025%2C%20Biles%20made%20history,the%20White%20House%20on%20Thursday.| title=Simone Biles awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom| work=[[ABC News]]| first=Katie| last=Kindelan| date=July 7, 2022| access-date=August 19, 2023}}</ref>