The White House announced yesterday that there will be 7 recipients of this year' Medal of Freedom including three posthumous winners.
White House announces POTUS to give presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to:
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 10, 2018
Elvis Presley
Babe Ruth
Antonin Scalia
Roger Staubach
Alan Page
Orrin Hatch
Miriam Adelson
As noted by Vanity Fair, "The celebrity honorees will include Elvis Presley, for defining American culture and noting his service in the Army; Babe Ruth because, as the White House noted in its announcement, “he remains the personification of “America’s Pastime;” former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach; and former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Alan Page, who was later served as the first African American judge on the state's supreme court."
Like wise, "philanthropist Miriam Adelson, who founded research centers committed to fighting substance abuse and co-founded the Adelson Medical Research Foundation, which does research on life-threatening" illnesses. She’s the wife of casino magnate and Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson."
The late conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia will also receive the award. His son, Christopher, expressed is appreciation via Twitter and his approval that his father will receive it the same year as the King of Rock and Roll.
Very proud that my father will receive the Medal of Freedom. That he’s getting it with Elvis is icing on the cake. https://t.co/BBkjfUEGRx
— Christopher J. Scalia (@cjscalia) November 10, 2018
Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, is retiring after 41 years in the U.S. Senate and will be honored as well.
The ceremony will occur this Friday, November 16th. The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy.