‘Core Spirit of the Sea’

It’s not every day that U.S. Navy sailors, past and present, come together and share their common bond.

But that’s what happened Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Washington D.C., during the U.S. Navy Memorial’s 2026 Lone Sailor Awards dinner.

Recently deployed sailors assigned to multiple Navy ships, including the USS Cole, USS Stockdale, USS Forrest Sherman, USS Sterett, and the USS Stethem, were invited to the Navy Memorial’s annual gathering alongside senior Navy leaders, veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and nearly 500 current members of the Sea Service community.

Vice Adm. John Nowell, Jr., president and CEO of the U.S. Navy Memorial, told Military.com the event is a huge draw every year.

“It’s about celebrating individuals who have epitomized and embodied the core spirit of the sea as sailors across the country and around the world,” Nowell said. “We recognize those who have shown, by example, what service, honor, courage and commitment look like, both in and out of uniform.”

‘Excitement’ and Respect Filled the Room

The Lone Sailor Awards Dinner is one of the Memorial’s signature annual events, presented annually since 1987 by the United States Navy Memorial.

Organizers said the intention is to connect distinguished veterans and leaders with active duty sailors who are carrying on the same mission.

Among the honors was the Naval Heritage Award, issued to those who are not veterans of the Sea Services but have done outstanding work to support the Sea Services while displaying the same values of other award recipients in their lives.

“We also had heroes from the past who were in the audience and on stage, showing and talking about what service and sacrifice looks like,” Nowell said. “And we had sea cadets there, including 18 sailors who had recently returned from wartime deployments that we honored for their service. So, we had multiple generations of service present.”

This year’s honorees included Medal of Honor recipient, retired USMC Cpl. William Kyle Carpenter, who was recognized for his service in Afghanistan; and Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician 2nd Class Scott C. Ruskan, recognized for his actions as a rescue swimmer who saved dozens of children during the July 2025 Central Texas flooding at Camp Mystic.

“One of the most special things for me was seeing sailors in the crowd from ships home ported in both San Diego and Norfolk,” Nowell added. “Many of them are very young, and you could just see the excitement they had throughout the evening.

“At the end of the night, they were all standing in line to get their pictures taken with Kyle Carpenter and Scott Ruskin. It was pretty cool.”

Award Recipients Join Distinguished List

Navy officials said their recognition places them among a distinguished group of previous Lone Sailor Award recipients.

Among them are astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn, the veteran and late U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona, former Secretary of Defense and retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, singer-songwriter Bill Withers, basketball Hall of Famer David Robinson, and baseball legends Stan Musial and Yogi Berra.

Acting Secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao, congratulated this year’s honorees and their common commitment to service.

“Their collective example reminds us that service takes many forms,” Cao said in a statement. “It is found in courage under fire, in a lifetime of support to veterans and military families, in leadership that strengthens the communities surrounding those who serve, and in decisive action when lives are at risk.”

A centerpiece of the dinner was the Lone Sailor statue, an iconic representation of the men and women who have served, are serving or will serve in the U.S. Navy.

The statue depicts an experienced sailor and serves as a symbol of the Navy Memorial’s broader mission to preserve the stories and heritage of the Sea Services.

In a statement, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James W. Kilby celebrated the dinner as a ‘thank you’ to all retired Navy officers, as well as those currently serving.

“Unique to this event, the Navy Memorial invited sailors stationed outside the national capitol region who recently returned from deployment,” Kilby said. “They were able to hear about the importance of service both in and out of uniform. Their resilience and dedication reflect proudly on our Navy.”