Disney Hosts Purple Heart Ceremony in EPCOT for US Army Veteran

US Army Veteran Honored with Purple Heart Ceremony at Epcot

During a heartwarming ceremony held before park opening at Walt Disney World Resort on Wednesday morning, U.S. Army veteran and current Disney cast member John Arant, senior manager of casting services, was presented with the Purple Heart Medal, America’s oldest military award.

Related-Epcot Going Purple For Epilepsy For Third Annual Purple Day

Under the rotunda of the American Adventure pavilion at EPCOT, Arant was recognized for his military valor and the injuries he sustained during active service with the U.S. Army in Mosul, Iraq, in 2007.

Related-Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will Pay Tribute to Military Service Members and Veterans

The Purple Heart, established in 1782 by General George Washington to recognize heroic acts performed by his troops during the Revolutionary War, is awarded today in the name of the President of the United States to acknowledge those wounded or killed while serving in the line of duty.

John received his Purple Heart from fellow cast member Jenn O’Rourke, a business transformation manager with Disney Institute who continues to serve in uniform as a Major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Arant’s ceremony was attended by his family and fellow Disney cast members, including numerous military veterans. Wearing his Army service dress uniform, he was surrounded by “Portraits of Courage,” the pavilion’s current exhibit featuring more than 60 paintings created by former U.S. President George W. Bush to recognize post-9/11 military veterans.

In 2019, Arant joined The Walt Disney Company as part of the Heroes Work Here initiative, a company-wide program designed to hire, train, and support military veterans. This ceremony highlighted The Walt Disney Company’s enduring admiration for those who serve their country in uniform, a tradition that dates back to founders Walt and Roy O. Disney, who both served during the First World War.

The event, filled with pride and respect for Arant’s selfless service, exemplified Disney’s commitment to honoring the brave men and women who protect our nation. Congratulations John!

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.

Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel

Who is your Travel Agent?(Required)

Let us pick for youEric HilesStacy ReedAbbey JohnsonAlisa SullivanAlli WillisAmanda FolsomAmanda VannAmber BrillhartAmber FisherAmy SieburnAndrea SmithAngela AndersonAngie BaycuraAnna PetrilliAnnabelle DuboseApril StefanskiAshley RamseyBeth ParsonsBetsy SantoroBrandie McQueenBrian BuckleyBridget HatchBryan SchwartzCandice SneedCarrie ButlerCarson DockumCasey BoltCharleen HortonChelsea RoyChelsea WuebkerChris BoyerChristie GrubeChristina FratturaChristina SmithCourtney WhiteCraig YoderDan MercedDanielle NorcrossDarby MouritsenDavid ForrestDeborah AlvaradoEmilee BiegelEmily MorrisFaith HakesGail HatchGreg MatzkerHelen HummerHolly CurryJackie CavistonJaclyn PepitoneJamie SwansonJeanine JordanJeff CallahanJenni MaierJennifer BrownJennifer StephensonJennifer StoessnerJessica HatfieldJessica HuffJessica WunderJoe GuertinJon CarpentierJoseph SliwaJulie McCombJustin BrownKat AttridgeKathryn EberhartKathy AndersonKatie HarrellKatie PrevotKayla CookKelsey SullensKim HelmsKimberly HutchinsonKristi GallagherKyle RamsdenLauren DewlenLeanne MonterLinda DurhamLindsay AckermannLindsey VromanLissette BritoLori HardyMallory MorrisonMandi QuinnMaranda PerkinsMarisa AlvaradoMegan TeismannMeghan BlairMelissa ReedMichele KlineMike BeyerMissy McCormickMisty DickersonNancy CasteelNicole ThorntonPatrick O'ConnorPaul SulPeyton Ward-KubikRaylene CooganRegan OstranderRobbie BulusRobert ThomasSara SolbergSarah McCandlishShanna BrowningShelley BennettShelly MetzStacy CristStacy KrzyminskiStacy SmithStephanie DraganoStephanie FerencStephanie WalshSusannah McCordTara SlusserTerri MillerTiffany DobraskiTiffany DrenkhahnTina FarmerTonya LesiukTracy DaneTroy DuncanVeronica RenteriaVicki FesslerWendy CarllWendy HauserWendy KellehanWendy Shelley

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Destination(Required)

Walt Disney WorldDisneyland ResortDisney Cruise LineAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaUniversal FloridaUniversal HollywoodRoyal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian or other Cruise LineI don't know yet

# of Adults(Required)

# of Children(Required)

Check-in-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Check-out-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Comments, Questions or Special Requests

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!