[applause] opal lee. [applause] two years after president lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation, freedom for enslaved americans was finally enforced in galveston, texas, marking the nation's first juneteenth. in the same town, opal lee was born six decades later. growing up in a home that was burned down by a racist mob, she understood history must never be erased. a teacher and advocate, she helped lead a movement with the national juneteenth observance foundation. more than 150 years after that day, she stood next to another american president that followed her lead and made a juneteenth a federal holiday. the nation thanks opal lee, the grandmother of juneteenth. [applause] kathleen genevieve ledecky. [applause] a humble leader, olympian, and a champion of unparalleled dedication that she is the most decorated female swimmer in history. [applause] with 10 olympic medals and counting. an athletic prodigy from a swimming family she captured the world's admiration with her punishing strokes and unm

opal lee. [applause] two years after president lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation, freedom for enslaved americans was finally enforced in galveston, texas marking the nation's first juneteenth. in the same town, opal lee was born six decades later. growing up in a home that was burned down by a racist mob, she understood history must never be erased. a teacher and advocate, she helped lead a movement with the national juneteenth observance foundation. more than 150 years after that day, she stood next to another american president that followed her lead and made a juneteenth a federal holiday. the nation thanks opal lee, the grandmother of juneteenth. [applause] kathleen genevieve ledecky. a humble leader, olympian, and a champion of unparalleled dedication that she is the most decorated female swimmer in history. [applause] with 10 olympic medals and counting. an athletic prodigy from a swimming family she captured the world's admiration with her punishing strokes and unmatched stami

opal lee. ellen ochoa. nancy dalessandro -- nancy d'ale xandro pelosi. jane rigby. teresa romero. judy shepard. gail lynn canon accepting on behalf of james francis thorpe. and michelle yeoh. ♪ distinguished guests, the president of the united states. [applause] ["hail to the chief" playing] president biden: please have a seat. i think i told my buddy john kerry for the first two years they played "hail to the chief," i looked around and asked, where the hell is he? thank you for joining us for one of our favorite events at the white house. 61 years ago, president kennedy established the presidential medal of freedom. in the first class of recipients was a great american writer, eb white. years after receiving the metal, he received a letter from someone and replied, "relentless curiosity, inventiveness, ingenuity, trouble." i can only hope these same traits will allow us to claw your way out. hang onto your hats, hang onto your hope. tomorrow is another day. today, we have another extraordinary honor to bestow on the nation's highest civilian honor, 19 people whose relentless cur