Lenny Kravitz's uncle receives posthumous Medal of Honor

Rocker Lenny Kravitz was at the White House on Tuesday (18Mar14) to celebrate the memory of his namesake uncle as he was posthumously presented with the nation's highest military honour for his service in the Korean War.

Leonard Kravitz was among the 24 recipients of the prestigious Medal of Honor, 63 years after he was killed in Yangpyeong, Korea in 1951, aged 20, and his famous nephew was in the audience as the singer's half-sister, Laurie Wenger, was presented with the award on his behalf by President Barack Obama.

In his opening speech, Obama hailed the courageous soldiers for sacrificing their own lives for the freedom of others, stating, "Because others laid down their lives for us, we've been able to live our lives in freedom, pursue our dreams, so there's a legacy here born of sacrifice."

He added of the American Woman hitmaker, "That includes a soldier's nephew, a kid from New York who grew up to become one of the great rock stars of all time and who honours his uncle here today..."