In a ceremony taking place at the White House, President Barack Obama honored political and cultural icon Dolores Huerta with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Fifty years ago in 1962, Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta founded the United Farm Workers, the nation’s largest farm workers’ union.

Dolores Huerta, the civil rights, workers and women’s advocate who co-founded the United Farm Workers of America in 1962, was named one of 13 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday.