 President George W. Bush's Deputy Director for Awards said that the DeShazer nomination for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's most prestigious civilian award, second only to the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor would be given "every consideration" by the advisory staff, who will provide the President with the recommendation.The medals are usually awarded on or near 4 July annually.About 400 Presidential Medals of Freedom have been awarded since its inception in 1945.