The Salute to Service Gala, the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region’s annual black-tie tribute, is the largest fundraising event of the year. Funds raised are transformed into services delivered every day in our community. Hundreds of military, government, corporate and community leaders join together for an inspirational evening that supports the programs of the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region.

VIP Reception: 5 – 6:30 p.m.
General Reception: 6:30 – 10 p.m.

Lifetime of Service Honoree: Norm Augustine
Tiffany Circle Distinguished Woman Warrior Honoree: Jaspen Boothe
Special Entertainment: The Kaleidoscope Orchestra
For more information, visit http://www.redcross.org/dcgala.

Salute to Service guests can use this link to get our special rate at the Hilton McLean Tyson Corner if they wish to stay overnight: https://aws.passkey.com/event/14493795/owner/3114104/home

To get this rate, please reserve by November 4.

Veterans Day Observance at the World War II Memorial
Friday, November 11, 2016 ~ 9:00 A.M.

The Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service invite you to join us as we pay tribute to the more than 16 million men and women who served with the U.S. armed forces during World War II during a special Veterans Day event at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Friday, November 11th at 9:00 a.m. 

During the event, author and veteran Mr. Allan Howerton will offer personal remarks about his own service during WWII. Mr. Howerton served as a rifleman, messenger, and company communications sergeant with the 84th Infantry Division during the Rhineland, Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), and Central Europe campaigns. 

WUSA9 Morning Anchor Mike Hydeck will serve as the event’s Master of Ceremonies.

Friends’ chairman Josiah Bunting III and Gay Vietzke, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, will offer welcome remarks. The Military District of Washington will provide military support for the event. 

As part of the ceremony, Mr. Howerton and a dozen other World War II veterans will place wreaths at the Freedom Wall in remembrance of the more than 400,000 Americans who lost their lives during WWII. 

If you are a World War II veteran, or know of one, who would like to participate
in the Veterans Day ceremony at the Memorial, please email Holly now!

We hope you’ll join us on November 11th at the WWII Memorial!

Click here to RSVP NOW!

The Veterans Day Observance at the National World War II Memorial is co-hosted by the
Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service.

#HonorFlightDCA

Introducing your August 2016 PHOTO OF THE MONTH from Volunteer Kathleen Drennan. Kathy is a staple at our Terminal A greetings was able to snag this wonderful photo of General Leslie Purser greeting veterans from Land of Lincoln Honor Flight when they were here on August 16. Thanks to Bob Alexander for encouraging the General to join us!

Want to be featured next month? Hashtag your favorite Honor Flight photos on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! We will choose the next PHOTO OF THE MONTH to be featured on October 1.

To commemorate the Allied Forces Victory in the Pacific and the end of World War II, the Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service will co-host a very special V-J Day Observance at the WWII Memorial on Friday, September 2nd at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony will also celebrate the spirit of unity of the American people during this pivotal moment in our nation’s history and give recognition to all World War II veterans, especially those who fought in the Pacific Theater during the war, as well as all those who served on the home front. 

During the event, Retired U.S. Army Colonel James L. Riffe will offer personal remarks about his own service doing WWII. Riffe served in the Pacific Theater of Operations from October 1944 through the end of the war. In April 1945, he commanded a unit that took part in the invasion of Okinawa.

Friends’ chairman Josiah Bunting III and Gay Vietzke, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, will offer welcome remarks. The Military District of Washington will provide military support for the event.

As part of the ceremony, Colonel Riffe and a dozen other World War II veterans will place wreaths at the Freedom Wall in remembrance of the more than 400,000 Americans who lost their lives during WWII.

If you are a World War II veteran, or know of one, who would like to participate in the V-J Day ceremony at the Memorial, please email me now!

We hope you’ll join us on September 2nd at the WWII Memorial!

Click here to RSVP NOW!

The V-J Day Observance at the National World War II Memorial is co-hosted by the
Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service.

#HonorFlightDCA

Introducing your July 2016 PHOTO OF THE MONTH from Volunteer John D Rickards. John is a staple at our Terminal C greetings and captures the arrival from set up until the Veterans get on the buses.

This shot was captured at the Old Glory Honor Flight Vietnam Veterans Flight this past Friday, July 29. See more of John’s photos from that flight here!

Want to be featured next month? Hashtag your favorite Honor Flight photos on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! We will choose the next PHOTO OF THE MONTH to be featured on September 1.

The Unknowns Movie is officially taking pre-orders here for the DVD and Blu-Ray copies of ‘The Unknowns’ staring TODAY. Please note the film will ship in November.

The DVD and Blu-Ray will include special extended interviews with Badge Holders, Sentinels, and Trainees, as well as deleted scenes, and a director / producer commentary track.

‘The Unknowns’ DVD and Blu-Ray will also be made available for direct purchase online at theunknownsmovie.com and through iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and in select stores across the country starting on Veteran’s Day, 2016.

 9th Annual Armistice Day Peace Concert & Vigil

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

July 23rd, 2015, 6-8pm

Event to Honor Veterans, Pray for Peace and Walk for Unity 

The 9th Annual Armistice Day Peace Concert & Vigil, hosted by Remember727, is taking place on July 23, Sat from 6-8pm, at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, to remember the “Forgotten War,” to honor its veterans and victims, and to hope for peace on the Korean Peninsula and elsewhere conflict persists.

The Korean War, which halted in a ceasefire agreement on July 27, 1953, has technically not ended and is America’s longest war. From 1950-1953, 1.8 million American men and women served in the Korean War, including 600,000 African Americans, 25,000 Japanese Americans, 20,000 Chinese Americans, and 148,000 Hispanic Americans. The U.S. suffered 54,246 casualties and 8,176+ plus POW/MIAs. In total, the Korean War involved people of different backgrounds from a total of 25 nations in 6 continents. There will be a very eclectic mix of speakers and performances to reflect the global scale of the conflict. **

The Program will include a Wreathlaying ceremony at 6:00pm, and the Peace Vigil exactly at 7:27pm, followed by an inaugural Unity Walk along the Reflecting Pool. With escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula, as well as recent tragedies in Paris, Brussels, Orlando, Istanbul and Dhaka, it would be especially meaningful to march for peace along the Reflecting Pool bordering the WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials.

There will be photo displays of the Korean War provided by Holt International adoption agency celebrating its 60th anniversary, as well as artwork from the Hudson Arts Foundation, which aims to promote peace through art.

**The wreath-laying ceremony will be led by Scottish American Military Society Color Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarywith Korean War Veterans and Korean American community leaders; and remarks by Col. Bill Weber, Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation, James Shekleton, Rolling Thunder (POW/MIA) Maryland Chapter I, Lt. Col. David Davis, US Army Ret., and Minister Counselor Kim Dong Ki, Embassy of the Republic of Korea.

To RSVP or for more information please visit www.Remember727.org. 

The Little Theater of Alexandria

PRESENTS a timeless and ageless love story, the musical

WEST SIDE STORY

Friday, July 22, 2016, 8:00 p.m.

Suggested price donation – $40 per ticket (tax deductible)

TICKET INCLUDES PERFORMANCE & RECEPTIONS

Receptions before at 7 P.M. and after the performance

Additionally, there will be several raffle baskets.

All proceeds go to the Visitor Education Center

Payment by check or cash only

Checks payable to the Pentagon Memorial Fund

(a 501 (c)(3) IRS tax-exempt organization)

Open seating – for tickets please call Tina Barry at (703) 683 – 5778 ext. 1

For additional information please visit http://www.PentagonMemorial.org

For directions and information about the theatre, please visit http://www.thelittletheatre.com

[story credit: Fox News, 7/18/16]

Nearly five decades after helping rescue dozens of American soldiers pinned down by enemy fire, a Vietnam War veteran received the nation’s highest military honor for valor on Monday.

President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to retired Lt. Col. Charles Kettles of Ypsilanti, Michigan during a ceremony Monday at the White House.

Kettles led helicopter flights carrying reinforcements to U.S. soldiers and evacuated the wounded after they were ambushed in combat operations near Duc Pho in May 1967. Describing how one soldier hung on to the damaged helicopter’s skid, President Obama said, “[you] couldn’t make this up. It’s like a bad Rambo movie.”

Kettles repeatedly returned to a landing zone under heavy fire. He is credited with helping to save 40 soldiers and four members of his unit. During the final evacuation effort, he was advised that eight soldiers had been unable to reach the helicopters, so he returned without benefit of artillery or tactical aircraft support.

The Army said his helicopter was hit by a mortar round that damaged the main rotor blade and shattered both front windshields. Small arms and machine gun fire also raked the helicopter.

“In spite of the severe damage to his helicopter, Kettles once more skillfully guided his heavily damaged aircraft to safety,” the Army said in describing his actions. “Without his courageous actions and superior flying skills, the last group of soldiers and his crew would never have made it off the battlefield.”

Obama says Kettles serves as a great inspiration for Americans at a time when the country has been suffering through a rough couple of weeks. He said Kettles shows how Americans look out for each other even when times are tough and even when the odds are against them.

More information can be found here.

In receiving America’s highest military Honor, Lt. Col. Charles Kettles becomes the recipient of the 260th medal awarded for service in Vietnam. For more information, visit the Congressional Medial of Honor Society’s website here.

Next time you are at DCA, please check out the new art exhibit in the hallway outside the USO (between Terminal A and Terminals B/C) — a beautiful series of paintings by Chinese Artist Haoqin Gong. When he heard the story of the “Flying Tigers”, he was enchanted and inspired to document history with his paintbrushes. The Flying Tigers were an American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force in 1941-1942, composed of pilots from the United States Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps. The pilots were recruited under presidential authority and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. The shark-faced nose art of the Flying Tigers’ planes remains among the most recognizable image of any individual aircraft or combat unit of World War II.

I want to express feelings in my stance, showing my admiration to departed heroes and my appreciation of friendship between Chinese and American.”

– Haoqin Gong, May 8, 2016

This exhibit won’t be around forever — check it out today!