STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY UPON RECEIVING THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM

WASHINGTON, DC— Senator Edward M. Kennedy today released the following statement in response to being named by President Obama as a 2009 recipient of the Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor:

“I am profoundly grateful to President Obama for this extraordinary honor. My life has been committed to the ideal of public service which President Kennedy wanted the Medal of Freedom to represent. To receive it from another President who prizes that same ideal of service and inspires so many to serve is a great privilege that moves me deeply.”

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