Comedian Ellen DeGeneres receives America’s highest civilian honour

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is America’s highest civilian honour. President Obama honoured 21 people with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the White House including actors, performers, scientists, athletes, among others. The prominent awardees were actors Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Robert Redford and Cicely Tyson, musicians Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross, Philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates and basketball players Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States to those who have made meritorious contributions to the national interests, security, and culture of the United States. The award was established in 1963 by President John Kennedy and is not only limited to the US citizens.