Gleason Being Honored with the Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor US lawmakers can bestow on a civilian. This year, this honor is going to Steve Gleason, if President Trump signs the legislation.
The former New Orleans Saints and Washington football player is famously known for his battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as well as his struggles to help others who suffered through this disease.
He will be the first footballer to ever receive this honor. He expressed his delight and surprise through his tweets, deeming himself “undeserving” compared to the past names on the list, consisting of powerful giants who aided humanity. No one can blame him, though. The list includes names of personalities as big as Sir Winston Churchill, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King. Athletes who have been honored with this medal include Roberto Clemente, Joe Louis, Jack Nicklaus and Jesse Owens.
Gleason, an amazing linebacker for the Washington State team (especially in the 1998 Rose Bowl), spent 8 seasons at NFL before being diagnosed with the disease. The news turned his life upside down and made him feel like a beginner all over again.
He and his wife established a foundation called “Team Gleason” in order to aid the victims of ALS and come up with ways to make their lives a bit more bearable.
It was a senator from Louisiana, Bill Cassidy, who came up with the idea of honoring Gleason, which was unanimously approved by the Senate on Thursday. It’s Gleason and his wife’s determination and efforts that made Gleason eligible for this reward.
These efforts were clearly shown in a documentary from 2016, titled “Gleason,” which depicted five years of the athlete and his family’s life. Then, it was just him, his wife and son, but they recently had a daughter just a few months ago.
Gleason says he’s grateful to his wife, family, caretakers and citizens of Spokane and New Orleans. He’s honored to accept the medal on behalf of everyone suffering from the disease.