Freedom Medal Ceremony At The White House

Obama handed out sixteen Presidential Medals of Freedom, to an interesting group of gifted recipients, during a ceremony held at the White House in Washington, D.C. The event produced this fun photo:

President Obama (left) and Joe Medicine Crow, Plains Indian war chief (right)

Obama honors 16 'agents of change' at White House

WASHINGTON — The East Room of the White House was full of top contributors to the arts, science, sports and humanities as President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 individuals Wednesday afternoon.

"The true test of a person's life is what we do for one another," Obama said in kicking off the ceremony, his first official one bestowing honors as president.

Michelle Obama, sleek in a red shift dress, sat front and center to watch her husband recount the accomplishments of the honorees.

All 13 of the living honorees, who included actor Sidney Poitier, performer Chita Rivera and former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, were in attendance, with the exception of Sen. Edward Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer and whose sister Eunice died on Tuesday. His daughter, Kara Kennedy, was there to accept on his behalf...

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