President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Freedom to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday, May 29th.
As the nation's highest civilian honor, the award is given to those that make extraordinary contributions to world peace, national interest and security, or other cultural endeavors.
In his remarks to the audience, Obama said, “Together, the honorees on this stage, and the ones who couldn’t be here, have moved us with their words; they have inspired us with their actions. They’ve enriched our lives and they’ve changed our lives for the better...”
Albright was the first woman named Secretary of State, serving under former President Bill Clinton, and now runs a global strategy firm in Washington.
In a statement issued prior to the awards ceremony, Obama said Albright's life is an inspiration to all Americans and that her scholarship and insight continue to make the world a better, more peaceful place.
Albright responded by saying, "I am so honored to have gotten the Medal of Freedom. It makes me feel very proud to be an American, and that's the story that goes together."
The other 13 recipients this year’s Medal of Freedom included Pat Summitt, the longtime University of Tennessee women's basketball coach, and Jan Karski, who was among the first people to provide accounts of the Holocaust to the world.
For more information on Dr. Albright, please visit: WashingtonSpeakers.com/MAlbright.
