A slain civil rights activist from Pelham is among 18 people awarded the Medal of Freedom Monday.

The award is the highest civilian honor in the U.S.

James Chaney's daughter, David Goodman's brother and Michael Schwerner's wife accepted the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama Monday on behalf of the three slain civil rights activists. The three men were killed by the KKK in Mississippi back in 1964 as they tried to register African-Americans to vote.

Michael Schwerner attended Pelham High School, and his mother taught at New Rochelle High School. A sculpture dedicated to the three slain civil rights workers was erected at New Rochelle High School in 1972, and about 20 members of the National Art Honor Society just refurbished it.