The National WWII Museum will commemorate Memorial Day by honoring the courage and sacrifice of fallen servicemembers through a series of public programs. On May 30, the Museum’s events will kick off at 10:30 a.m. with patriotic music selections by the Marine Corps Band New Orleans Brass Quintet. The performance will be followed by a special ceremony featuring personal tributes from relatives of those who lost their lives during World War II.

The National WWII Museum President and CEO Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller today received the French Legion of Honor alongside Tom Brokaw and Tom Hanks at a private ceremony at the Grand Chancellery in Paris. The Legion of Honor Medal, which was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, acknowledges services rendered to France by persons of exceptional merit and accomplishments. It is the highest distinction awarded by the French government.

On June 10, 2016, The National WWII Museum and Whitney Bank will present the American Spirit Awards in the Museum’s US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center. The awards gala, which will take place in New Orleans for the first time, celebrates individuals and organizations whose work reflects the spirit of those who served our nation during World War II. The 2016 honorees include New Orleans natives and representatives from across the nation, all of whom have inspired others through their own acts of courage, sacrifice, initiative and generosity.

The National WWII Museum today announced its newest special exhibit: Tom Lea: LIFE and World War II, sponsored by The Woldenberg Foundation. The exhibition, which opened to the public on June 24, features nearly 30 original paintings and illustrations from LIFE magazine war correspondent and artist Tom Lea. On loan from the US Army Center of Military History, as well as private collections and museums, the artworks depict a realistic view of war, while also reflecting Lea’s unwavering bravery as he observed US armed forces fighting on land, at sea and in the air.

In honor of Bob Hope’s unwavering support for the troops, the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation has committed a $3 million gift to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The generous donation will support integrating Bob Hope’s wartime legacy comprehensively throughout the Museum’s campus. Hope’s story, which is a significant component of World War II, represents the value of laughter and humanity in even the darkest times.