Meryl Streep, Stevie wonder, Tom Brokaw and Ethel Kennedy were among the famous figures who received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama today at the White House. They were among a group of 19 artists, activists and lawmakers receiving the award - the highest possible civilian honor - at the ceremony Monday. 'This is one of my favorite events,' Obama said from the East Room. 'Once a year, we set aside this event to celebrate people who have made America stronger and wiser and more humane and more beautiful with our higher civilian honor.' Scroll down for video
@highlight
Barack Obama awarded 19 medals at ceremony in the East Room Monday
@highlight
Spoke at length of his love for Streep and praised her compassion and skill
@highlight
Also praised Stevie Wonder, and said he bought one of his albums aged 10
@highlight
Said event celebrated people who made U.S. 'stronger, wiser, more humane'
He continued: 'A musical prodigy with an electrifying voice, @placeholder's blend of R&B and jazz and funk and blues and soul and whatever else you got speaks of love and loss, justice and equality, war and peace.