USA: President Bush awards Medals of Freedom Awards to B.B. King, Natan Sharansky and others

U.S President George W Bush on Friday (December 15) awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to blues legend B.B. King, human rights campaigner Natan Sharansky and eight others. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is America's highest civil award. "B.B." King, known as "King of the Blues," has been performing with his guitar "Lucille" for more than 50 years. King, raised in the Mississippi Delta, began his career playing on street corners, and today has performed more than 10,000 shows, won 14 Grammys, and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Natan Sharansky was imprisoned by the Soviet regime for his work to advance religious liberty and human rights. He spent nine years in the Gulag. He later served in the Israeli government. He remains a champion of freedom, and the advance of liberty around the world. Established in 1963, the Medal may be presented to any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, or contributions to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.

ITN Source | December 16, 2006

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