Medal of Freedom Award
 The nation's highest honor awarded to a civilian.
One of the highlights of Sam Walton’s career came just a few weeks before his passing, when President George Bush presented Sam with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on March 17, 1992. The presidential citation read: "An American original, Sam Walton embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and epitomizes the American dream. Concern for his employees, a commitment to his community and a desire to make a difference have been the hallmarks of his career. By sponsoring scholarships for Latin America, he has also worked to bring peoples closer together and to share with others the American ideals he so well represents. A devoted family man, business leader, and statesman for democracy, Sam Walton demonstrates the virtues of faith, hope, and hard work. America honors this captain of commerce, as successful in life as in business." Rob Walton describes the excitement of that unforgettable day.From Sam’s book, Made in America:
"The award was presented on the morning of Tuesday, March 17, in the auditorium of the Wal-Mart General Offices, where Dad had held forth on so many Saturday mornings. The room was filled with several hundred of his associates, and their affection for Dad on this special day was particularly moving. They really outdid themselves, and I think they may even have startled President and Mrs. Bush — not to mention the White House press corps — by giving one of the most enthusiastic Wal-Mart cheers we've heard around here in some time. Dad's pleasure was evident, and he called it 'the highlight of our entire career.'"
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