10 of Nation’s ‘Very Best’ Get Freedom Medal From Reagan

President Reagan on Tuesday saluted the work of 10 Americans, awarding them the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the government’s highest civilian award, in luncheon ceremonies at the White House.

Reagan honored the recipients as “fellow Americans who’ve made a difference--Americans who represent the very best of our country.”

The honors--a medal and a citation signed by Reagan--are awarded only by the President to those who have made “especially meritorious contributions” to U.S. national security, world peace or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors, the White House said.

The recipients:

Anne Armstrong, former ambassador to Britain, for her role as a diplomatic representative of the United States in a variety of missions; the late Justin Dart, a longtime political supporter of Reagan and wealthy industrialist, “for his contributions in the fields of business and public service”; the late Danny Kaye, for his work in the arts and entertainment “and other significant public endeavors”; Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer, retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for his “outstanding military service.”

Others are John A. McCone, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, “for his contributions in the fields of public service and national interests of the United States”; Frederick Patterson, founder of the United Negro College Fund, for “contributions in the fields of education and public service”; Nathan Perlmutter, national director of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, for “contributions in the field of public service.”

Also, Mstislav Rostropovich, the cellist and conductor of the National Symphony orchestra, for “contributions in the fields of the arts and entertainment”; William B. Walsh, founder of Project HOPE, for “contributions in the fields of medicine and humanitarianism,” and the late Meredith Willson, composer of the Broadway musical and movie “The Music Man,” for “contributions in the fields of entertainment and music.”