Stan Musial, Bill Russell To Receive Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Baseball HOFer Stan Musial and Basketball HOFer Bill Russell today will be among those receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in a 1:30pm ET ceremony in the East Room of the White House. The medal is the highest civilian honor the U.S. government can bestow (THE DAILY). Cardinals Chair Bill DeWitt Jr. "has arranged for a private jet to take Musial and family to Washington." They were scheduled to leave for DC yesterday "then fly back to St. Louis after the ceremony" (STLTODAY.com, 2/12).

Russell is the "first person from the NBA" to receive the Medal of Freedom. In an interview that will air on NBA TV in late March, Russell said, "It's very flattering because I've tried to live my life doing what I think is right and for the right reasons" (USA TODAY, 2/15).