Four honorees with ties to New Orleans will be honored for their life’s work in promoting American ideals at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s convention here in November. The event is hosted by the National WWII Museum.
Lafayette oilman and WWII veteran Paul Hilliard, actor Tom Hanks, former New Orleans broadcaster and ABC News’ Robin Roberts and native and actor Wendell Pierce will receive the awards at Patriot Awards Gala. The four will join Medal of Honor recipients at the event.
The convention is the largest annual gathering of Medal of Honor recipients and attracts national attention.
The event, being held in New Orleans for the first time, will coincide with the opening of the Liberation Pavilion, the final permanent exhibit hall, under the banner “D-Day to Liberation: Road to Victory Celebration.”
Hilliard, receiving the Patriot Award, was a U.S. Marine in the Pacific. An ardent advocate of the museum, he is the founded of Badger Oil in Lafayette and has served as chairman of the board of the museum.
Hanks, receiving the Bob Hope Award for Entertainment, has been an advocate for veterans and the preservation of WWII history. The filmmaker also serves as honorary chairman of the museum’s Road to Victory Capital Campaign.
Roberts, who will receive the John R. “Tex” McCray Award for Excellence in Journalism, is a alumna of Southeastern Louisiana University and serves as co-anchor of Good Morning America. She is also the daughter of a Tuskegee Airman and sister of local broadcaster Sallie Ann Roberts.
Pierce, who will receive the Distinguished Citizen Award, is a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School and NOCCA, as well as the Julliard School. He is the son of a WWII veteran. He also provides his vocal talents to projects at the museum.
In addition to the opening of the pavilion, the museum’s celebration will include the dedication of the Col. Battle Barksdale Parade Ground (the central courtyard of the museum complex) and the completion of the $400 million capital campaign used to expand the museum from one hall to seven pavilions in two decades.
Presented by the Stephen G. and Regina Oswald Foundation, the convention provides opportunities for recipients to reunite and share their stories with local students, veterans, active-duty military and community members in a series of public and private events from Oct. 30 through Nov. 4. The gala, presented by the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation, is Nov. 3.
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