Press Release

The National WWII Museum Announces 2026 American Spirit Award Honorees

Recipients Include America’s Real-Life ‘Rosie the Riveters,’ Acclaimed Composer John Williams, ALS Advocate Steve Gleason

NEW ORLEANS (March 19, 2026) — The National WWII Museum is proud to announce the 2026 recipients of the American Spirit Award, the Museum’s highest honor. The award recognizes individuals and organizations who, through their life’s work, exemplify the outstanding qualities of the American spirit and inspire these values in others.

This year’s recipients include the trailblazing women wartime workers popularly known as “Rosie the Riveters,” acclaimed composer and conductor John Williams and prominent ALS advocate and former NFL player Steve Gleason. Honorees will be recognized at the annual American Spirit Awards Celebration on the Museum’s campus in New Orleans on June 4-6. The festivities will kick off Thursday evening with a patron reception presented by the Stephen G. and Regina Oswald Foundation and continue Friday night with the American Spirit Awards Gala. Additionally, the Museum will mark the 82nd anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy on Saturday during the Museum’s signature Dr. Hal Baumgarten D-Day Commemoration. 

“The American Spirit Award is a powerful reminder of the enduring qualities that guided our nation through World War II — resilience, innovation, sacrifice and unity behind a common cause,” said Stephen J. Watson, President & CEO of The National WWII Museum. “This year’s honorees demonstrate these values through service to country, dedication to craft and a lifelong commitment to excellence. Their contributions have helped shape our national story and continue to inspire new generations to lead with integrity and purpose.”

The 2026 American Spirit Award honorees reflect the importance of honoring those who served during World War II, sharing their stories and carrying on their legacies:  

  • Also known as Rosie the Riveters, America’s women wartime workers will be recognized for their service to the country and their legacy of courage, resilience and ingenuity. During World War II, millions of women on the Home Front answered the call to serve their country by joining the wartime workforce. As men left for military service, labor shortages in defense-related industries created unprecedented opportunities for women, many of whom were entering the workforce for the very first time. Jobs that had long been reserved for men suddenly opened; in factories and shipyards across the nation, Rosies from all backgrounds worked side by side to meet the demands of wartime production. Despite facing discrimination and resistance, women workers took on demanding roles and mastered complex technical skills such as welding, riveting, aircraft assembly and munitions manufacturing. Their labor not only helped produce critical supplies to support the Allied fighting forces but also challenged traditional gender roles. Through their determination and patriotism, Rosies reshaped women’s place in American society and continue to inspire women and girls around the world today.
  • John Williams will be honored for inspiring audiences worldwide through his musical exploration of the “American sound.” A New York native, Williams joined the US Air Force in 1951, composing and performing in the Air Force Band before studying piano and composition at Juilliard. Over his nearly seven-decade career, Williams has written hundreds of works for media and the concert stage, including some of cinema’s most recognizable scores. His music for Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List has helped bring the history and emotional weight of World War II and the Holocaust to life for millions of people around the world. Beyond film, Williams has composed multiple symphonies and concertos and served as music director of the Boston Pops Orchestra for 14 seasons, where he remains Laureate Conductor. Among his countless industry and international honors, he has won five Academy Awards and received 54 nominations, the most of any living person and the second-most in history.
  • Steve Gleason embodies the American spirit through his tireless advocacy for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the terminal neuromuscular disease Gleason himself was diagnosed with in 2011. A former safety for the New Orleans Saints from 2000 to 2008, he is forever linked to his iconic blocked punt in the first game at the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina — a defining moment of hope and resilience for New Orleans. Following his diagnosis, Gleason committed himself to changing the narrative around ALS, proving that individuals with the disease can continue to lead purposeful, empowered lives. He and his wife, Michel Varisco, founded Team Gleason, which has provided more than $65 million in technology, equipment, care services and experiences to people living with ALS and their families, while advancing technologies and care for the future. In addition, Gleason founded Answer ALS, a groundbreaking initiative that created the world’s most comprehensive open-access ALS datasets, accelerating treatments and a cure. He has also helped expand patients’ rights and access to communication devices, earning honors including the Congressional Gold Medal. Gleason’s living legacy is one of perseverance, innovation and compassion, and an enduring source of inspiration and courage for anyone facing adversity. 

As part of the American Spirit Awards events, the Museum will also bestow the annual Billy Michal Student Leadership Award on one student from each state and the District of Columbia who embodies the American spirit in their community. The award is named after Michal — a Louisiana native and winner of the Museum’s Silver Service Medallion in 2017 — who, at the age of 6, helped his one-room school win a statewide scrap metal collection contest during World War II, proving that every citizen could contribute to Allied victory. Students who receive the honor have a strong record of volunteerism, school and community involvement, and implementing creative solutions to recognized problems. They will be recognized on Friday, June 5, at a leadership forum presented by Kevin Clifford Family. 

Click here for details on tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 American Spirit Awards.

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National WWII Museum, the institution celebrates the American spirit, teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifices of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and served on the Home Front. For more information on Tripadvisor’s #1 New Orleans attraction, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit nationalww2museum.org.