Liberty Medal

The National Constitution Center’s annual Liberty Medal honors men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, we honored America’s storyteller, Ken Burns.

Ken Burns
The 2024 Liberty Medal Ceremony

The National Constitution Center has honored renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns for illuminating the nation’s greatest triumphs and tragedies.

The 2024 Liberty Medal Ceremony

The 36th annual Liberty Medal was awarded to America’s storyteller, Ken Burns, for illuminating the nation’s greatest triumphs and tragedies and inspiring all of us to learn about the principles at the heart of the American idea. The National Constitution Center honored the renowned documentary filmmaker at a ceremony overlooking Independence Mall on September 24, 2024.

The Liberty Medal is made possible thanks to support from corporations, foundations, and individuals with proceeds going to further the work of the National Constitution Center. See full list of sponsors below.

Highlights

Full Ceremony


Find all of the 2024 Liberty Medal ceremony highlights on our YouTube playlist.

The 2024 Liberty Medal Recipient

For nearly half a century, Ken 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. 

Listen to the 2024 Ceremony

Constitution Daily

Read coverage of the event on our Constitution Daily blog.

Read More

Ceremony Transcript

The official transcript of the full ceremony includes a discussion between Ken Burns and Jeffrey Rosen.

Read More (PDF)

Thank You

Thank you to our prize sponsor.

Ira M. Lubert & Pamela Estadt Logo
 

Thank you to the many individuals, corporations, and foundations who support the Liberty Medal and the work of the National Constitution Center:

Underwriter

Citizens Bank Logo
Doug & Maria DeVos
The Andrea W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Foundation
Kenneth C. Griffin
Griffin Catalyst
Stradley Ronon

 

Patrons

Comcast Universal Logo
Ruth & Rick Horowitz
Larry & Mary Kent
Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer &
Joseph Neubauer
Sheldon & Cynthia Stone
 
Fred & Barbara Sutherland
 

Sponsors

David & Sarah Andrews
Kettering Logo
Connelly Foundation
Dilworth Paxson
PECO Logo
The George Family Foundation
Judge J. Michael &
Elizabeth Luttig
Meijer
Meta
PECO Logo
Mauree Jane & Mark W. Perry
TD Bank Logo
Citizen Logo
 

Supporters

 
Center for Alcohol Policy
Cozen
Carole Haas Gravagno
 
Ann Marie & Terry Horner
 
Departments of Political Science and History, La Salle University
 
Pennoni
Eagles
Louise Reed
Elizabeth Reid & 
Robert S. Taylor, Esq.
Susie & Jay H. Shah

Liberty Medal

Established in 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, the Liberty Medal honors men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. The Medal was first administered by the National Constitution Center in 2006 when Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton were recognized for their bipartisan humanitarian efforts on behalf of victims of natural disasters in Southeast Asia and the Gulf Coast. The Medal’s roster of recipients includes many of the men, women, and organizations that have shaped and guided the world through the past three decades, including Nelson Mandela, Sandra Day O’Connor, Kofi Annan, Malala Yousafzai, and Colin Powell.

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, we serve as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling our congressional charter “to disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.” As the Museum of We the People, we bring the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, we convene the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, we offer the best educational programs and online resources that inspire and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.

Contact

For information about sponsoring the Liberty Medal, please contact Rachel Dellon at [email protected]. For general inquiries, please contact, [email protected].

Images from the 2024 Ceremony:

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