U.S. President Biden presented 17 honorees with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Thursday.  

Recipients of the nation’s highest civilian honor included former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, U.S. soccer player Megan Rapinoe, nurse Sandra Lindsay, U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, and 91-year-old Fred Gray, called one of the “most important civil rights lawyers in our history” by President Biden.  

Medals awarded posthumously to Steve Jobs and former Senator John McCain were received by their widows.

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