Join The National WWII Museum and Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States, on behalf of the President of France, as we honor WWII veteran Samuel Meyer of New Orleans, Louisiana, with the bestowment of the National Order of the Legion of Honor to the rank of Chevalier. The Legion of Honor is the highest military and civil decoration awarded in France.

Meyer was drafted into service at 18 years old. Boarding the train in New Orleans on St. Patrick’s Day 1943, he departed for training that took him to Florida, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Corporal Meyer served in the 485th Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force. His service in the US Army Air Forces stationed him across the European theater for missions in countries including Britain, Belgium, France, and Germany.

When the war ended, he was discharged from service and returned to New Orleans, where he started working for the family business, Meyer The Hatter. Meyer, who will celebrate his 100th birthday in August, still works three days a week at the cherished hat store, a New Orleans institution where five generations of Meyers have sold hats since 1894.

This event is in-person only and will not be livestreamed. For more information, contact Jessica Saddler, at jessica.saddler@nationalww2museum.org.