President Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 2010 recipients. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian award and recognizes exceptional meritorious service. The recipients were former President George H.W. Bush, Georgia Representative John Lewis, Maya Angelou, Warren Buffett, Bill Russell, Stan Musial, Gerda Weissmann Klein, Jean Kennedy Smith, Yo-Yo Ma, Jasper Johns, John H. Adams, John Sweeney, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, Sylvia Mendez, and Dr. Tom Little (posthumous).