It's an honor that has been bestowed upon Mother Teresa, the Pope, the crew of the Apollo 13, famous performers such as Duke Ellington, Bob Hope and Audrey Hepburn and civil rights leader Rosa Parks.
Late last year, President Barack Obama bestowed the Medal of Freedom on Lee Hamilton, an Indiana native who served in the United States Congress and co-chaired the 9/11 Commission.
Coming Thursday, March 3 at 8 p.m. to WTIU: a WTIU News special program exploring the legacy of this legendary Hoosier.