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Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Gordon B. Hinckley
President Bush presents LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, a rare gift for his 94th birthday Wednesday during a ceremony in the White House. Hinckley has served in church leadership since the 1930s. (Susan Walsh/AP)
Hinckley to receive Medal of Freedom at the White House June 23, 2004
Gordon B. Hinckley
By Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune
WASHINGTON -- President Bush will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, the White House announced Friday.
"I will be deeply honored to receive this prestigious award from the president of the United States," Hinckley said through a spokesman. "I am profoundly grateful. In a larger sense, it recognizes and honors the church, which has given me so many opportunities and whose interests I have tried to serve.
"To the church, to my associates, and to our people everywhere, I extend my gratitude, and with each of you share the honor of this recognition."
Hinckley will join actress Doris Day, golfer Arnold Palmer, Pope John Paul II and nine others as 2004 recipients.
President Truman established the award in 1945 to honor civilian contributions during World War II. It was reinstated by President Kennedy in 1963 to recognize distinguished peacetime service. The medal has been conferred on roughly 400 individuals since its introduction.
The White House said that, as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1995, Hinckley has "inspired millions and has led efforts to improve humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and education funding across the globe."
Other 2004 honorees include journalist Robert Bartley, politician Edward Brooke, historian Vartan Gregorian, National Geographic Society Chairman Gilbert Grosvenor, cosmetics mogul Estee Lauder, actress Rita Moreno, ophthalmology researcher Arnall Patz, journalist Norman Podhoretz and economist and banker Walter Wriston.
Bush will present the medals at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, although the president delivered the award to the pope during a visit to the Vatican earlier this month.
Honorees are recommended to the president by a Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board. Past recipients include former presidents, astronauts, entertainers, scientists, religious leaders and victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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Medal History
