Congratulations Joe Medine Crow!

The president of the United States, His excellence Barack Obama awarded the higest medal could be awarded to a civilian, the “Medal of Freedom” to Joe Medicine Crow last August 12.

Wearing a traditional headdress, Joe Medicine Crow last Wednesday received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House.

This honor is the highest recognition that a civilian could ever hoped.

Joseph Medicine Crow was born October 27, 1913, is a Crow historian and author. He is also an enrolled member of the Crow Nation of Native Americans.

“Dr. Medicine Crow’s life reflects not only the warrior spirit of the Crow people, but America’s highest ideals,” Obama said as he introduced him and called him “a good man” in the Crow language.

Medicine Crow broke tradition and briefly spoke after Obama gave him the medal, telling the president he was “highly honored” to receive it.

Other recipients this year were Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, physicist Stephen Hawking, retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and 12 other actors, athletes, activists, scientists and humanitarians.