List of Puerto Rican Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients

This is a list of notable Puerto Ricans who were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The list includes people who were born in Puerto Rico, people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican ancestry such as Pablo Casals, whose mother was Puerto Rican and Chita Rivera, whose father was Puerto Rican. It also includes other residents or immigrants of other ethnic heritages who have made Puerto Rico their home, and who are recognized for their life or work.

Nine Puerto Ricans have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States. It recognizes those individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors".Executive Order 9586, signed July 6, 1945; Federal Register 10 FR 8523, July 10, 1945Presidential Medal of Freedom Former governor Luis A. Ferré and his sister Isolina Ferré are the only pair of Puerto Rican brother and sister to have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente was also the posthumous recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Citizens Medal.

Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom The following people are the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom: NameYear awardedOccupationPablo Casals(Puerto Rican mother)1963Cellist and ConductorLuis Muñoz Marín1963(with Distinction)Governor of Puerto RicoLuis A. Ferré1991Governor of Puerto RicoAntonia Pantojas1996Educator, social worker, feminist, civil rights leaderIsolina Ferré(sister of recipient Luis A. Ferré)1999Roman Catholic nunRoberto Clemente (USMC picture)2003(posthumously)Baseball Hall of FamerRita Moreno2004ActressChita Rivera2009Actress, dancer, and singerSylvia Mendez2011Civil Rights activistFelicitas Mendez2011(posthumously)Civil Rights activist

List of Puerto Rican Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients

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