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Simone Biles

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

US President Joe Biden presents gymnast Simone Biles with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 7, 2022.

Olympic gymnastics icon Simone Biles sported a huge smile while receiving her medal, as fiancé Jonathan Owenscheered from the front row of the crowd. Biles was honored not only for her athletic prowess but her advocacy for athletes' “mental health and safety, children in the foster care system and victims of sexual assault,“according to the White House.

02of 15Gabrielle GiffordsSAUL LOEB/AFP via GettyGiffords was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006, representing Arizona; in 2011, she was shot in the head during an event in her home state. Biden honored her for both her political career and her founding ofGiffords, a non-profit that works for gun violence prevention.

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Gabrielle Giffords

US President Joe Biden presents former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 7, 2022.

Giffords was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006, representing Arizona; in 2011, she was shot in the head during an event in her home state. Biden honored her for both her political career and her founding ofGiffords, a non-profit that works for gun violence prevention.

03of 15Sister Simone CampbellAlex Wong/GettyCampbell has dedicated much of her life to social justice, serving as executive director ofNETWORKand helping champion the Affordable Care Act.

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Sister Simone Campbell

Alex Wong/Getty

President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Sister Simone Campbell, a social justice advocate who championed the Affordable Care Act, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Campbell has dedicated much of her life to social justice, serving as executive director ofNETWORKand helping champion the Affordable Care Act.

04of 15Fred GrayAlex Wong/GettyGray, a lawyer and politician, was one of the first Black members of the Alabama State legislature since Reconstruction.According to the White House, he represented Rosa Parks, the NAACP and Martin Luther King Jr. over the course of his career.

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Fred Gray

President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Fred Gray, one of the first Black members of the Alabama state legislate since Reconstruction, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Gray, a lawyer and politician, was one of the first Black members of the Alabama State legislature since Reconstruction.According to the White House, he represented Rosa Parks, the NAACP and Martin Luther King Jr. over the course of his career.

05of 15Dr. Julieta GarcíaSAUL LOEB/AFP via GettyGarcía is the former present of the University of Texas at Brownsville, the first Hispanic woman to work as a college president.

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Dr. Julieta García

US President Joe Biden presents Dr. Julieta García with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 7, 2022.

García is the former present of the University of Texas at Brownsville, the first Hispanic woman to work as a college president.

06of 15Sandra LindsayAlex Wong/GettyThe first American toreceive an approved COVID-19 vaccine, Lindsay, a nurse, served on the front lines of the pandemic response in New York City.

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Sandra Lindsay

President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Sandra Lindsay, a New York nurse who served on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic response, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.

The first American toreceive an approved COVID-19 vaccine, Lindsay, a nurse, served on the front lines of the pandemic response in New York City.

07of 15John McCainSAUL LOEB/AFP via GettyThe late senator and war veteran, a friend and colleague of Biden, was one of the day’s posthumous honorees. His widow, Cindy McCain, accepted his medal with tears in her eyes.

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John McCain

US President Joe Biden presents Cindy McCain (L), the widdow of former Senator and presidential candidate John McCain, posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 7, 2022.

The late senator and war veteran, a friend and colleague of Biden, was one of the day’s posthumous honorees. His widow, Cindy McCain, accepted his medal with tears in her eyes.

08of 15Megan RapinoeAlex Wong/GettyThe women’s soccer star was honored for her on-field leadership and advocacy work for gender pay equality, LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice.She wore a suit that paid tributeto WNBA star Brittney Griner, who is currently being held in Russia on drug charges.

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Megan Rapinoe

U.S. President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Megan Rapinoe, soccer player and advocate for gender pay equality, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.

The women’s soccer star was honored for her on-field leadership and advocacy work for gender pay equality, LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice.She wore a suit that paid tributeto WNBA star Brittney Griner, who is currently being held in Russia on drug charges.

09of 15Wilma VaughtSAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyThe Brigadier General is one of the most decorated women in the U.S. military; according to the White House, when she retired,she was one of just sevenfemale generals in the Armed Forces.

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Wilma Vaught

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty

US President Joe Biden presents Brigadier General Wilma Vaught with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 7, 2022. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

The Brigadier General is one of the most decorated women in the U.S. military; according to the White House, when she retired,she was one of just sevenfemale generals in the Armed Forces.

10of 15Father Alexander KarloutsosAlex Wong/GettyKarloutsos is former Vicar General of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and spent 50 years as a priest, earning the highest of honors within his own organization in 1994.

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Father Alexander Karloutsos

U.S. President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Father Alexander Karloutsos, former vicar general of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Karloutsos is former Vicar General of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and spent 50 years as a priest, earning the highest of honors within his own organization in 1994.

11of 15Alan SimpsonSAUL LOEB/AFP via GettyDuring his 18 yearsas a U.S. Senator from Wyoming, Simpson pushed for campaign finance reform and marriage equality, according to the White House.“He’s a great hugger,” Simpson joked to the crowd after exchanging an embrace with Biden.

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Alan Simpson

US President Joe Biden presents former US Senator Alan Simpson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 7, 2022.

During his 18 yearsas a U.S. Senator from Wyoming, Simpson pushed for campaign finance reform and marriage equality, according to the White House.

“He’s a great hugger,” Simpson joked to the crowd after exchanging an embrace with Biden.

12of 15Steve JobsSAUL LOEB/AFP via GettyThe Apple founder was another of the day’s posthumous honorees; his widow Laurene Powell Jobs accepted his medal.

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Steve Jobs

US President Joe Biden presents US businesswoman Laurene Powell Jobs with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for her late husband Steve Jobs during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 7, 2022.

The Apple founder was another of the day’s posthumous honorees; his widow Laurene Powell Jobs accepted his medal.

13of 15Khizr KhanAlex Wong/GettyA Gold Star father, Khan founded the Constitution Literacy and National Unity Center, often speaking out on religious freedom. Under Biden, he served on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

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Khizr Khan

U.S. President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Khizr Khan, Gold Star father of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.

A Gold Star father, Khan founded the Constitution Literacy and National Unity Center, often speaking out on religious freedom. Under Biden, he served on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

14of 15Raúl YzaguirreSusan Walsh/AP/ShutterstockThe U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic under President Obama, Yzaguirre is also a civil rights advocate and served as president of National Council of La Raza.

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Raúl Yzaguirre

Susan Walsh/AP/Shutterstock

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Susan Walsh/AP/Shutterstock (13021783bq) President Joe Biden awards the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to civil rights advocate Raul Yzaguirre during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, . Yzaguirre was president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza for 30 years and served as U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic under President Barack Obama Biden Medal of Freedom, Washington, United States - 07 Jul 2022

The U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic under President Obama, Yzaguirre is also a civil rights advocate and served as president of National Council of La Raza.

15of 15Diane NashAlex Wong/GettyNash is a founding member of the civil rights organization Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. during her career.The honorees who were not in attendanceincluded the late Richard Trumka, former president of the AFL-CIO and United Mine Workers, and actor and Boys & Girls Club spokesman Denzel Washington,who tested positive for COVID-19this week.

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Diane Nash

U.S. President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Diane Nash, a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Nash is a founding member of the civil rights organization Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. during her career.

The honorees who were not in attendanceincluded the late Richard Trumka, former president of the AFL-CIO and United Mine Workers, and actor and Boys & Girls Club spokesman Denzel Washington,who tested positive for COVID-19this week.

source: people.com