Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Bob Dylan to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom today


Bob Dylan receives the Medal of Freedom today at the White House.


Bob Dylan will be presented with the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States today, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Live coverage by C-SPAN begins today at 3:45 p.m.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will participate in an event honoring the 13 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in an East Room ceremony at the White House.

Created by President John F. Kennedy through an Executive Order in 1963, the Medal of Freedom is recognizes exceptional meritorious service.

UPDATE: Here is the section focusing on Dylan:



Here is a list of those receiving the honor today:
  • Madeleine Albright - 64th U.S. Secretary of State, the first woman to hold that position
  • John Doar - Former Justice Department official that led federal efforts to protect and enforce civil rights during the 1960s
  • Bob Dylan - Influential American musician
  • William Foege - Physician and epidemiologist that lead the successful campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s
  • John Glenn - Former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut and United States Senator
  • Gordon Hirabayashi - He openly defied the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II
  • Dolores Huerta - Notable human right activist and co-founded the National Farmworkers Association in 1962
  • Jan Karski - Officer in the Polish Underground during World War II and carried among the first eye-witness accounts of the Holocaust to the world
  • Juliette Gordon Low - Founded the Girl Scouts in 1912
  • Toni Morrison - Celebrated American novelist
  • Shimon Peres - Advocate for Israel's security and for peace
  • John Paul Stevens - Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010
  • Pat Summitt - All-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history

Bob Dylan kept the sunglasses on.


Here is the classic recording by Peter, Paul & Mary of Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind.

5 comments:

Andy said...

Quite the eclectic group this year.

wyclif said...

Was Dylan tripping out during the ceremony?

Unknown said...

Perhaps the bright lights are tough on the guy - or better yet, maybe it's a tribute to Bono. Heh.

bb

Anonymous said...

Seems very disrespectful of the award, and especially to the other recipients, to not remove his sunglasses. For example, he's too good to glare upon a member of the Polish Underground? Yet another bad decision of this White House administration.

Anonymous said...

Interesting that someone could make Dylan's sunglasses into a negative commentary on this Administration.

Scout