Concert Honors Those Who FoughtIn The Pacific (NAPSA)—This year marks the 60th anniversary of the battle for Iwo Jima, and to honor those who took part, PBS’ top-rated, multiaward winning National Memorial Day Concert will bring to life the moving stories of the young men who fought on the strategically vital Pacific island. The event will be broadcast from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, before an audience of more than 300,000 on Sunday, May 29, 2005 from 8:00 to 9:30 p-m. ET live on PBS (check local listings). It can also be heard in stereo over National Public Radio and can be seen overseas by U.S. military personnel in more than 135 countries on American Forces Radio and Television Network. Some of Hollywood’s most prominent stars and Grammyaward winning artists, such as Gary Sinise, Vanessa Williams, Joe Mantegna, Colin Powell, Charles Durning, Harolyn Blackwell, Trace Adkins and other guest artists will appear in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Erich Kunzel. Also appearing will be the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and color guards from each of the armed forces. The concert will also pay tribute to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and to the sacrifices of the widows, widowers and children left behind. “The families are casualties of war, too,” said execu- tive producer Jerry Colbert. “We must remembertheir sacrifices.” This year, PBS’ National Memorial Day Concert will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the battle for lwo Jima. For over a decade, and until his sudden death this past February, acclaimed actor and World WarII veteran Ossie Davis hosted The National Memorial Day Concert with extraordinary dedication. Colbert plans to honor the legacy of Davis’ work with a special tribute led by Colin Powell. “Ossie Davis was a man of dignity, integrity and humility who served his country in many ways,” said Colbert. “He was a great actor, director, writer, civil rights activist and a marvelous host—we will miss him.” Each year, the concert provides an outlet for loved ones, of all generations, to remember, grieve and begin to heal.
