Philadelphia, PA (September 26, 2024) - The National Constitution Center today released video of its 2024 Liberty Medal ceremony celebrating America’s storyteller Ken Burns. The ceremony, held earlier this week at the Center, honored Burns with the 36th annual Liberty Medal and featured insight from co-producer and friend Sarah Botstein, as well as a lively conversation with Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen.
The full transcript of the ceremony can be found here (PDF)
. A press kit, including photos, is available here.
In his opening remarks, Rosen reflected on the importance of giving Burns the Liberty Medal. “The National Constitution Center’s sacred mission is to inspire Americans to learn about history so they can become more perfect and keep the Republic,” he said. “In his life and in his work, Ken Burns, the storyteller of American history, has done more to advance that mission than any other American. That’s why it’s such a tremendous and unique honor for the National Constitution Center to award the 2024 Liberty Medal to Ken Burns.”
And upon receiving the Liberty Medal, Burns emphasized the importance of telling the American story. “The stories of those forgotten entirely and those whose stories have been historically ignored or undervalued are critical to our larger American story. You cannot understand the U.S. without understanding us, all of us,” he said. “The National Constitution Center reminds us daily through exhibitions, education, engagement, and outreach, through the work of scholars and teachers that our founding documents are not materials to be left in some distant, dusty past, but central to our ongoing story now: the story of us. It’s because these documents and ideas are a manifestation of what it means to be human.”
“I could not be more humbled for the extraordinary recognition that you bestow on me tonight. The Liberty Medal recognizes that the desire for liberty, for freedom is a universal human trait that requires our constant attention against the perpetual threats that assault these virtues,” he continued.
For nearly half a century, Burns has been a pioneering force in American documentary filmmaking. He has directed and produced some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil War; Baseball; Jazz; The War; The National Parks: America’s Best Idea; Prohibition; The Roosevelts: An Intimate History; The Vietnam War; Country Music; The U.S. and the Holocaust; and, most recently, The American Buffalo. His films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including 17 Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Oscar nominations. He is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and a member of the Television Academy Hall of Fame. His upcoming projects include Leonardo da Vinci, airing November 2024, and The American Revolution, which will premiere in fall 2025.
The Liberty Medal, established in 1988 and hosted by the National Constitution Center since 2006, recognizes individuals who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. Recent recipients have included Judy Woodruff and David Rubenstein, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Senator John McCain, U.S. Representative John Lewis, the Dalai Lama, and Malala Yousafzai.
The Liberty Medal prize of $100,000 is sponsored by Ira Lubert and Pamela Estadt, who have supported the award for more than a decade. The Liberty Medal is also made possible by support from corporations, foundations, and individuals with proceeds going to further the work of the National Constitution Center.
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About the Liberty Medal
The Liberty Medal was established in 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. Given annually, the medal honors individuals and organizations of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. A full list of all past recipients is available here: constitutioncenter.org/liberty-medal/recipients.
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About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
