President Obama honors this year’s recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest medal awarded to civilians, during a reception at the White House. Honorees include Nancy Goodman Brinker, Pedro José Greer, Jr., Jack Kemp, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Stephen Hawking, Billie Jean King, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, Harvey Milk, Sandra Day O’Connor, Sidney Poitier, Chita Rivera, Dr. Janet Davison Rowley, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu, and Muhammad Yunus. August 12, 2009. (Public Domain)