Madeleine Albright receives Medal of Freedom

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday awarded the Medal of Freedom to Madeleine Albright, who was born in Czechoslovakia and fled the country with her parents to escape the Nazi occupation. She spent some time in England before immigrating to the US in 1948. Albright was the first woman to hold the nation’s top diplomatic post of secretary of state. Among this year’s recipients are John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, and legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The Medal of Freedom is America’s highest civilian honor. It is presented to individuals who have contributed to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace or cultural endeavors.

Author: Sarah Borufka