Presidential Medals of Freedom to Gehry and Lin

Considered the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medals of Freedom are presented to individuals "who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," per a White House statement. In the words of Barack Obama, who gave out his last batch of medals in the ceremony on Tuesday, the medals are "a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better."

Per the White House statement: "Frank Gehry is one of the world’s leading architects, whose works have helped define contemporary architecture. His best-known buildings include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Dancing House in Prague, and the Guggenheim Museum building in Bilbao, Spain."

Per the White House statement: "Maya Lin is an artist and designer who is known for her work in sculpture and landscape art. She designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and since then has pursued a celebrated career in both art and architecture.  A committed environmentalist, Lin is currently working on a multi-sited artwork/memorial, What is Missing? bringing awareness to the planet's loss of habitat and biodiversity."

Other recipients include actors Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, and Robert Redford, philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, athletes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan, and musicians Diana Ross and Bruce Springsteen.

The one-hour ceremony in its entirety: