Bono, Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington were among the latest individuals to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the US.
The title is the nation’s highest civilian honour and is awarded to people who “have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant societal, public or private endeavours”.
On Saturday (January 4), Joe Biden bestowed the award on a total of 19 people at a ceremony at the White House, with U2 frontman Bono being recognised for his work as “a pioneering activist against AIDS and poverty”, per a statement from the White House. “He brought together politicians from opposing parties to create the United States PEPFAR AIDS program, and is co-founder of campaigning organizations ONE and (RED).”
Writing on Instagram after the event, Bono wrote: “Thank you President Biden. Frontmen don’t do humble, but today I was. Rock n roll gave me my freedom… and with it the privilege to work alongside those who’ve had to fight so much harder for theirs. And I want to give it up for my band mates – Edge, Adam, and Larry – without whom I would never have found my voice.”
