AP

Biden to award Medal of Freedom to Biles, McCain, Giffords

Jun 30, 2022, 8:00 PM | Updated: Jul 6, 2022, 2:30 am

FILE - Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the P...

FILE - Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester, in the Queens borough of New York, Dec. 14, 2020. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, Pool, File)

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, Pool, File)


              FILE - Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester, in the Queens borough of New York, Dec. 14, 2020.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, Pool, File)
            
              FILE - Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, is honored at the Capitol in Washington, March 2, 2016. Vaugt was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber unit and the first woman to reach the rank of brigadier general from the comptroller field.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
            
              FILE - Sister Simone Campbell, Executive Director of the Roman Catholic Social Justice Organization addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 5, 2012. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
            
              FILE - Fred Gray looks on during the Fred D. Gray Avenue dedication ceremony, Oct. 26, 2021, in Montgomery, Ala. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
            
              FILE - Denzel Washington arrives at the 94th Academy Awards nominees luncheon, March 7, 2022, in Los Angeles.   President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week.  (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
            
              FILE - Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, stands during a news conference to announce the introduction of bipartisan legislation to expand background checks for sales and transfers of firearms, on Capitol Hill, Jan. 8, 2019 in Washington. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
            
              FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, poses wearing her bronze medal from balance beam competition during artistic gymnastics at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
            
              FILE - Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester, in the Queens borough of New York, Dec. 14, 2020.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, Pool, File)
            
              FILE - Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, is honored at the Capitol in Washington, March 2, 2016. Vaugt was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber unit and the first woman to reach the rank of brigadier general from the comptroller field.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
            
              FILE - Fred Gray looks on during the Fred D. Gray Avenue dedication ceremony, Oct. 26, 2021, in Montgomery, Ala. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
            
              FILE - Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, stands during a news conference to announce the introduction of bipartisan legislation to expand background checks for sales and transfers of firearms, on Capitol Hill, Jan. 8, 2019 in Washington. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
            
              FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, poses wearing her bronze medal from balance beam competition during artistic gymnastics at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
            
              FILE - Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester, in the Queens borough of New York, Dec. 14, 2020.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, Pool, File)
            
              FILE - Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, is honored at the Capitol in Washington, March 2, 2016. Vaugt was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber unit and the first woman to reach the rank of brigadier general from the comptroller field.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
            
              FILE - Sister Simone Campbell, Executive Director of the Roman Catholic Social Justice Organization addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 5, 2012. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
            
              FILE - Fred Gray looks on during the Fred D. Gray Avenue dedication ceremony, Oct. 26, 2021, in Montgomery, Ala. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
            
              FILE - Denzel Washington arrives at the 94th Academy Awards nominees luncheon, March 7, 2022, in Los Angeles.   President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week.  (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
            
              FILE - Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, stands during a news conference to announce the introduction of bipartisan legislation to expand background checks for sales and transfers of firearms, on Capitol Hill, Jan. 8, 2019 in Washington. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
            
              FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, poses wearing her bronze medal from balance beam competition during artistic gymnastics at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
            
              FILE - Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, is honored at the Capitol in Washington, March 2, 2016. Vaugt was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber unit and the first woman to reach the rank of brigadier general from the comptroller field.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
            
              FILE - Fred Gray looks on during the Fred D. Gray Avenue dedication ceremony, Oct. 26, 2021, in Montgomery, Ala. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
            
              FILE - Denzel Washington arrives at the 94th Academy Awards nominees luncheon, March 7, 2022, in Los Angeles.   President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week.  (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
            
              FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, poses wearing her bronze medal from balance beam competition during artistic gymnastics at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
            
              FILE - Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester, in the Queens borough of New York, Dec. 14, 2020.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, Pool, File)
            
              FILE - Megan Rapinoe waves to fans following the team's international friendly soccer match against Colombia, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
            
              FILE - Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, is honored at the Capitol in Washington, March 2, 2016. Vaugt was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber unit and the first woman to reach the rank of brigadier general from the comptroller field.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
            
              FILE - Sister Simone Campbell, Executive Director of the Roman Catholic Social Justice Organization addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 5, 2012. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
            
              FILE - Fred Gray looks on during the Fred D. Gray Avenue dedication ceremony, Oct. 26, 2021, in Montgomery, Ala. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
            
              FILE - Denzel Washington arrives at the 94th Academy Awards nominees luncheon, March 7, 2022, in Los Angeles.   President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week.  (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
            
              FILE - Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, stands during a news conference to announce the introduction of bipartisan legislation to expand background checks for sales and transfers of firearms, on Capitol Hill, Jan. 8, 2019 in Washington. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
            
              FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, poses wearing her bronze medal from balance beam competition during artistic gymnastics at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
            
              FILE - Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester, in the Queens borough of New York, Dec. 14, 2020.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, Pool, File)
            
              FILE - Megan Rapinoe waves to fans following the team's international friendly soccer match against Colombia, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
            
              FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, poses wearing her bronze medal from balance beam competition during artistic gymnastics at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.  President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
            
              FILE - AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka listens at the National Press Club in Washington, April 4, 2017. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
            
              FILE - Khizr Khan speaks at an event in Collingswood, N.J., Oct. 26, 2017. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week.  (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, FIle)
            
              FILE - Former Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming, speaks during a news conference, Sept. 12, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
            
              FILE - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Republican presidential hopeful, celebrates in Miami after winning the Florida Republican presidential primary, Jan. 29, 2008. President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, at the White House next week. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, including actor Denzel Washington, gymnast Simone Biles and the late John McCain, the Arizona Republican with whom Biden served in the U.S. Senate.

Biden will also recognize Sandra Lindsay, the New York City nurse who rolled up her sleeve on live television in December 2020 to receive the first COVID-19 vaccine dose that was pumped into an arm in the United States, the White House announced Friday.

Biden’s honors list, which the White House shared first with The Associated Press, includes both living and deceased honorees from the worlds of Hollywood, sports, politics, the military, academia, and civil rights and social justice advocacy.

The Democratic president will present the medals at the White House next week.

Biden himself is a medal recipient. President Barack Obama honored Biden’s public service as a longtime U.S. senator and vice president by awarding him a Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2017, a week before they left office.

The honorees who’ll receive medals from Biden “have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities, and across the world, while blazing trails for generations to come,” the White House said.

The honor is reserved for people who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant societal public or private endeavors, the White House said.

Biles is the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history, winning 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. She is an outspoken advocate on issues that are very personal to her, including athletes’ mental health, children in foster care and sexual assault victims.

Lindsay became an advocate for COVID-19 vaccinations after receiving the first dose in the U.S. outside of clinical trials.

McCain, who died of brain cancer in 2018, spent more than five years in captivity in Vietnam while serving in the U.S. Navy. He later represented Arizona in both houses of Congress and was the Republican presidential nominee in 2008. Biden said McCain was a “dear friend” and “a hero.”

Washington is a double Oscar-winning actor, director and producer. He also has a Tony award, two Golden Globes and the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a longtime spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The other 13 medal recipients are:

— Sister Simone Campbell. Campbell is a member of the Sister of Social Service and a former executive director of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice organization. She is an advocate for economic justice, overhauling the U.S. immigration system and health care policy.

— Julieta Garcia. A former president of the University of Texas at Brownsville, Garcia was the first Latina to become a college president, the White House said. She was named one of the nation’s best college presidents by Time magazine.

— Gabrielle Giffords. A former U.S. House member from Arizona, the Democrat founded Giffords, an organization dedicated to ending gun violence. She was shot in the head in January 2011 during a constituent event in Tucson and was gravely wounded.

— Fred Gray. Gray was one of the first Black members of the Alabama Legislature after Reconstruction. He was a prominent civil rights attorney who represented Rosa Parks, the NAACP and Martin Luther King Jr.

— Steve Jobs. Jobs was the co-founder, chief executive and chair of Apple Inc. He died in 2011.

— Father Alexander Karloutsos. Karloutsos is the assistant to Archbishop Demetrios of America. The White House said Karloutsos has counseled several U.S. presidents.

— Khizr Khan. An immigrant from Pakistan, Khan’s Army officer son was killed in Iraq. Khan gained national prominence, and became a target of Donald Trump’s wrath, after speaking at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

— Diane Nash. A founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Nash organized some of the most important 20th century civil rights campaigns and worked with King.

— Megan Rapinoe. The Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women’s World Cup soccer champion captains the OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League. She is a prominent advocate for gender pay equality, racial justice and LGBTQI+ rights who has appeared at Biden’s White House.

Rapinoe, who was at training camp in Denver when the White House called to inform her of the honor, thought she was getting a prank or robocall when she saw her phone say “White House,” U.S. Soccer said in a statement. She showed her phone to a teammate, who encouraged her to answer the call.

— Alan Simpson. The retired U.S. senator from Wyoming served with Biden and has been a prominent advocate for campaign finance reform, responsible governance and marriage equality.

— Richard Trumka. Trumka had been president of the 12.5 million-member AFL-CIO for more than a decade at the time of his August 2021 death. He was a past president of the United Mine Workers.

— Wilma Vaught. A brigadier general, Vaught is one of the most decorated women in U.S. military history, breaking gender barriers as she has risen through the ranks. When Vaught retired in 1985, she was one of only seven female generals in the Armed Forces.

— Raúl Yzaguirre. A civil rights advocate, Yzaguirre was president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza for 30 years. He served as U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic under Obama.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Biden to award Medal of Freedom to Biles, McCain, Giffords