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President Donald Trump signed legislation Thursday (Jan. 3) to award Steve Gleason the Congressional Gold Medal, giving the former New Orleans Saints player one of the government’s highest civilian honors. The next step, said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who spearheaded the law, is to work with Gleason’s charity and the U.S. Mint to design the medal and schedule a ceremony to present it to him.

Gleason was a special teams standout who most famously blocked an Atlanta Falcons punt in 2006, leading to a touchdown, in the first Saints game at the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2011 and has become a crusader for research and treatment of the disease.

Cassidy, a physician, sought to honor Gleason for his work as an advocate for people with what is commonly known as Lou Gehrig disease. The legislation is S.2652, the Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act.

skymike

Hooray for both.
: )

Saintsfan4ever

Gleason is famous for blocking a punt. Now he'll be more famous for blocking ALS. Most victims with advanced stage of ALS do not live beyond 5 years after being diagnosed. He's already beaten the odds because he's a tenacious fighter that refuses to give up. He's aware that there is virtually no chance his condition will ever improve, and it would be so easy for him to just give up because the only things on his body that still work are his heart, ears, eyes, and brain, but yet he fights every day to try & improve his condition while giving inspiration & hope to others affected by the disease.
So, he fights on.
God bless Steve Gleason!

Saint4

jeanpierre

Amazing example that on how to fight the entire fight through, even when you know the outcome...