President and Mrs. Obama participated in a ceremony for the 2009 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Obama praised the recipients and presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the honorees as their citations were read. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian award and recognizes exceptional meritorious service.

The recipients were: Nancy Goodman Brinker; Pedro Jose Greer, Jr., M.D.; Stephen Hawking; Jack Kemp (posthumous); Senator Edward Kennedy; Billie Jean King; Sidney Poitier; Sandra Day O'Connor; Harvey Milk (posthumous); Chita Rivera; Mary Robinson; Janet Davison Rowley; Desmond Tutu; Muhammad Yunus; Reverend Joseph Lowery; and Joseph Medicine Crow