Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2019) – Senators Elizabeth and Bob Dole will host the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s second annual Heroes and History Makers, a special evening honoring military and veteran caregivers, on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, at 7 p.m. at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama will be honored as the inaugural recipient of the Tom Hanks Caregiver Champion Award for outstanding support of military caregivers.

Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Phil Roe will receive the Congressional Caregiver Champion Award in recognition of their leadership on military caregiver issues on Capitol Hill.

Also participating in the evening will be Tom Hanks, chair of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Campaign, Savannah Guthrie, TODAY co-anchor and Hidden Heroes Ambassador, and there will be a special performance by singer Rita Wilson.

*** Elizabeth Dole and Tom Hanks will take media questions related to military caregiving in an informal press briefing during a ceremony break***

***Elizabeth Dole, Foundation leaders and military caregivers are available for interviews***

MEDIA ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS

All media will need to arrive at the appointed time below. Please bring a government issued photo I.D. and official media credential.

●        5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the Anthem, 901 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Media must RSVP in advance due to expected interest. RSVPs and interview requests should be sent to Dan Gregory at dgregory@susandavis.com.

USAA is the presenting sponsor of Heroes and History Makers. More than 80 military caregivers from across the nation will be in attendance.

Senator Elizabeth Dole was the first to call the nation’s attention to the 5.5 million Americans caring for a wounded, ill or injured service member at home.Military caregivers face increased emotional and physical stress, financial and legal troubles, employment difficulties and feelings of isolation due to the enormous responsibility and severe lack of resources for those caring for someone who served. The Foundation is committed to recognizing, supporting and empowering America’s hidden heroes.

Heroes and History Makers is a part of a week of events hosted by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation that will bring military caregivers from across the country to Washington, D.C. Other events include the 4th Annual National Convening for Military and Veteran Caregivers, “Hidden Heroes Among Us: Inspiring Community Action in the Caregiver Journey” co-hosted by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Philips on October 21 at the Capitol Hilton. On October 22, more than 80 Dole Caregiver Fellows will meet with Members of Congress on Capitol Hill.

Photos will be available after the event.

Heroes and History Makers is possible with additional support from AARP, Ambassador C. Boyden Gray, Anne Lantry, Bill Graham, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton., Bristol Myers-Squibb, Cerner, Comcast/NBC Universal, Constellation Brands, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, FedEx, Hilton, HomeInstead Senior Care, Humana, Jacqueline Mars, Modern Technology Solutions Inc (and Phil Soucy), Newman’s Own Foundation, Philips, Pritzker Military Museum & Library, Prudential, SCI, Social Driver, TriWest, Wells Fargo and Wounded Warrior Project.

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The design for the new National World War I Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC received final approval on Thursday from the United States Commission of Fine Arts (CFA).

“This is a day that all who have worked hard to bring the National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC from concept to reality are very happy to see,” said Terry Hamby, Chair of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission. “This final approval takes us a giant step toward beginning the construction of this long-overdue tribute in our nation’s capital to the 4.7 million Americans who served in America’s armed forces in World War I.”

The Memorial design now goes for final review by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC).  With the CFA and NCPC design approvals in hand, the Commission will coordinate with the National Park Service to finalize the construction permit so that work can begin this fall to restore Pershing Park and build the Memorial.

The Memorial is being built under the Commission’s authority by the Doughboy Foundation.

Key Congressional sponsors of the Centennial Commission legislation were pleased with the final design approval.  “It’s important that we have a tribute in our nation’s capital to the millions of men and women who served during WWI so that future generations may come to understand the sacrifices made on behalf of liberty,” said Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II of Missouri. “This moment has been a long time coming, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.”

Former Congressman Ted Poe of Texas hailed the approval decision. “All the Doughboys and Sailors of the Great War are gone, but now after 100 years, America will trace their long patriotic journey through this magnificent memorial,” he said. “We shall remember them all,  because the worst casualty of war is to be forgotten.”

The design approval by the CFA is the latest successful milestone in a five-year campaign that began in 2014 when Congress authorized the Commission to construct in Pershing Park “appropriate sculptural and other commemorative elements, including landscaping, to further honor the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War I.” After an international competition in 2015 that received over 350 entries from around the world, the design of architect Joseph Weishaar featuring a monumental bronze by sculptor Sabin Howard was selected as the winner from among five finalists.

“As the lead designer for this project, I’m proud to say that after 4 years of tireless effort we have at last achieved final approval for the design of the memorial,” said Weishaar. “This is possibly the greatest hurdle this project has had to overcome and it is a testament to the enduring resolve that the WWI Commission and its supporters have in seeing this project through to completion. It’s been a long slough, but now it’s time to build a memorial!”

Said Howard: “I am delighted beyond words to pass through this gate and be able to sculpt a memorial that will honor and uplift so many people across this nation.”

The Memorial’s new monumental bronze entitled “A Soldier’s Journey” is being sculpted in clay at Howard’s New Jersey studio, and will be cast in bronze in the UK, before being installed in the memorial park along with the existing sculpture of John J. Pershing, General of the Armies of the United States, who commanded the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.  As well as the sculptural works in the park, the Memorial will feature Extended Reality elements to enhance and extend the visitor experience.

“One hundred years ago 4.7 million American families sent their sons and daughters off to a war that would change the world,” said Commission Executive Director Daniel S. Dayton. “Finally, with this Memorial, they will be recognized in the nation’s capital.”

A new detailed document of the approved memorial design has been issued and is available to the public. The 80-page publication provides a detailed and nuanced look at the new Memorial from broad overview down to minutia including quotes that will be inscribed, surface and stone materials, what kind of plants will grace the park areas, the lighting plan, interpretive elements, handicap access and more.

The document can be downloaded as a .pdf at ww1cc.org/memorial-design and is available now.

More information about the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission is available here: http://ww1cc.org.

The Doughboy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of “Keeping Faith with the Doughboys.” The Foundation is working with the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission to build the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC. More information about the Foundation is available here: https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/about/the-foundation.html.

Media Contact: Chris Christopher Email: chris.christopher@worldwar1centennial.org. Phone: 202-796-2805.

Founding sponsor for the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission is the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago. www.pritzkermilitary.org

Key sponsor for the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission is the Starr Foundation. www.StarrFoundation.org

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Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), through the Pritzker Military Foundation has committed $1 Million to the Army Historical Foundation (AHF), a nonprofit organization who seeks to educate future Americans to fully appreciate the sacrifices that generations of Soldiers have made for the freedoms of the United States.

Established in 1983, AHF was created as a member-based 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. Its funding helps to restore historical army buildings, acquire and conserve army historical art and artifacts, support army history educational programs, research, and publication of historical materials on the American Soldier. The foundation also provides support and counsel to private and governmental organizations committed to the same goals.