Presidential Medal of Freedom

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by thePresident of USA and is—along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal  bestowed by an act of US Congress—the highest  Civilian Award in the USA

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is in the form of a golden star with white enamel with a red enamel pentagon behind it; the central disc bears thirteen gold stars on a blue enamel background (taken from the Great Seal of the USA) within a golden ring. Golden American Bald Eagles with spread wings stand between the points of the star. It is worn around the neck on a blue ribbon with white edge stripes

It recognizes those individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors

It was established in 1963 and replaced the earlier Medal of Freedom that was established by President Harry S Truman in 1945