Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day
12:00 Noon – Book Signing and Q&A with David Sears, author of At War With The Wind. In the last days of World War II, a new and baffling weapon terrorized the United States Navy in the Pacific. To the sailors who learned to fear them, the body-crashing warriors of Japan were known as “suiciders;” among the Japanese, they were named for a divine wind that once saved the home islands from invasion: kamikaze.
1:00 P.M. – Naval District Washington Commemorative Wreathlaying
1:30 P.M. – Screening of “Pappy Boyington Field,” followed by Q&A with director Kevin Gonzalez.
During World War II, Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington led a squadron of fighter pilots known as the "Black Sheep" of VMF-214. The accomplishments of these Marine Corps pilots were legendary. Boyington’s aggressive fighting spirit helped him earn the Ace designation five times over. Veterans groups and community members battled against bureaucracy for years to add his name to an Idaho airport to honor him...and the campaign was not without controversy. This is their story.
Thursday, November 12
6:00 p.m. – Cocktail reception and screening of an episode of “WWII in HD,” HISTORY’s landmark documentary series that airs November 15-19. Presenting the story of the war through the eyes of 12 Americans who fought in or contributed to the effort, “WWII in HD” features original, color footage never before seen by most Americans. Narrated by Gary Sinise and produced by Lou Reda Productions, the 10-hour series is one of HISTORY’s most ambitious projects to date. We are pleased to have the opportunity to be working with HISTORY, the American Veterans Center and Military Non-Profit Consulting to screen “WWII in HD.” Event is free, but seats are limited.
Friday, November 13 & Saturday, November 14
8:45 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Join the American Veterans Center as they host their annual conference at the Navy Memorial. Speaker sessions will be held throughout both days and will include U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. David Petraeus; astronaut Col. Buzz Aldrin; baseball legend Bob Feller; veterans featured in the film “Black Hawk Down,” the navigator of the Enola Gay; the first female Thunderbird pilot; veterans of the Band of Brothers; the author of the best-selling book One Bullet Away and many more. To register, call 703-302-1012, ext. 227 or e-mail avc@americanveteranscenter.org. For additional info, visit www.americanveteranscenter.com/.
Veterans Day 2008
At 1:00 p.m., the U.S. Navy Memorial and Naval District Washington held a wreathlaying ceremony on the Memorial Plaza in honor of our nation's veterans. A 1940's Radio Show concert performed from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
For one hour, the audience was transported back to the 1940s. Local entertainers “Make A Scene Music” recreated the atmosphere of a WWII-era radio show as performed by “Maxine and LaVerne Andrews,” accompanied at the keyboard by their sister, “Patty.”
The “Andrews Sisters” answered requests from the mailbag for musical dedications, reviving memories from those who served during WWII. This interactive program involved the “radio studio” audience with requests, sing-alongs and trivia questions from the era.
Some of the songs performed included popular 1940s hits such as “Don’t Sit Under the Appletree,” “Sentimental Journey,” and “I’ll Be Seeing You,” along with patriotic favorites like “You’re A Grand Old Flag” and “God Bless America.”
The Navy's Ceremonial Guard performs at the Navy Memorial in honor of Veterans Day 2008.
Kids visiting the Navy Memorial on Veterans Day 2008 salute our nation's veterans.