Attached are two messages that were released today to all members of Congress and to the major Veterans Service Organizations. Please share with WWII veterans.

Bruce G. Nitsche Veterans Liaison to the Secretary

RE: National World War II Memorial Dedication

Dear Veteran Service Organization:

Thank you for your continued interest in the Dedication of the National World War II Memorial this May 29th in Washington, D.C., and for helping the American Battle Monuments Commission keep your members informed.

The public interest in attending the dedication ceremony has been extraordinary. With 3 ½ million living WWII veterans, we knew the demand would exceed our capacity to accommodate all who want to attend the ceremony. Our first priority has always been the members of the generation who served on the battlefront and the home front. To this end, we are pleased that overall, 60 percent of the 117,000 ticketed seats available will go to members of the WWII generation. Our seating sections span the Mall and include the MCI Center, and members of the WWII generation have been given the majority of the seats in each section.

Individuals who requested tickets should have received notification indicating how many tickets have been reserved for them. Constituents with questions regarding their ticket orders should be directed to our ticket hot line at 1-800-297-1421.

For those who will be in Washington over Memorial Day Weekend without tickets for the dedication, we are establishing a non-ticketed viewing area on the Mall that should accommodate about 10,000 individuals in seats and another 30,000 standing room attendees. This area will be between 10th and 14th Streets, adjacent to the Smithsonian's WWII Reunion described below.

We encourage you to alert your members to ways the American people can experience this historic event from just about anywhere in the country. Here are the highlights:

Local Events of Celebration

Veteran Service Organizations across the country are organizing events to honor the WWII generation that will include viewing a specially-produced live satellite feed of the ceremony. In some cases the communities are planning large-scale events to honor local heroes.

Live Televised Coverage

The History Channel and C-SPAN have both agreed to carry the dedication ceremony live from start to finish beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 29, 2004. We also expect extensive news coverage of the events and special Memorial Day Weekend coverage focusing on the National World War II Memorial.

Other Options for Those without Tickets

The memorial should open to the public in mid-April 2004 and remain open through Friday, May 28th, so visitors may enjoy an early visit to the new memorial prior to the dedication weekend events. The memorial will be closed on Saturday, May 29th until at least one hour after the conclusion of the Dedication Ceremony, then reopen and remain open throughout the summer.

Smithsonian WWII Reunion, May 27-30, 2004

Coinciding with the dedication ceremony will be the "Tribute to a Generation: National World War II Reunion," a major four-day event produced by the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Admission is free and tickets are not required. The Reunion will take place on the National Mall between 3rd and 7th Streets. Highlights include:

· Reunion Hall: A Central Gathering Place for All

Veterans and their families are encouraged to socialize, relax, and get acquainted with others and reconnect with their service colleagues.

· Wartime Stories: Voices of a Generation

Come in for a chat with prominent World War II veterans and war workers. Narrative sessions, and interviews on a variety of topics will be featured in this pavilion.

· Veterans History Project Pavilion

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project will present interviews, speakers, and exhibits that showcase first-hand accounts collected from men and women, civilian and military, who served during the war. Information and workshops on how to write, record, and preserve personal histories will be provided.

· Preserving Memories

Experts from museums and archives will advise veterans and their families on how to preserve documents and material culture of WWII, such as letters, scrapbooks, diaries, maps, photographs, memorabilia, medals, uniforms, etc. Weapons will not be permitted.

· Building the WWII Memorial

Members of the architectural, engineering, landscape, and construction teams will discuss their roles in creating the WWII Memorial. This pavilion will also feature an exhibition by the City Museum of Washington on the planning and building of the memorial.

· Veterans Services

Representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs, federal agencies and other veteran service organizations will assist veterans and their families. Information on veteran's resources and benefits will be available.

· Family Activities: Passing It On

Families of all ages are invited to move from station to station, engaging in hands-on activities relating to the World War II period.

· Homecoming Stage & Capitol Canteen Stage

Share the sights and sounds of dance and music from the World War II era (big band, swing, boogie-woogie, military music, and more) in these two performance pavilions.

· Military Equipment Display

Throughout the Reunion site will be displays of military artifacts and equipment relating to World War II.

For more information on the National WWII Reunion please visit: http://www.folklife.si.edu/CFCH/wwiioverview.htm

America Celebrates the Greatest Generation - 100-Day Summer Tribute

Your members also can make plans to visit Washington, D.C. and the memorial throughout the summer to take part in a citywide, summer-long celebration called "America Celebrates the Greatest Generation." The celebration will kick-off Memorial Day weekend and continue through Labor Day weekend.

More than 80 WWII-themed exhibitions, performances, and walking tours, as well as hotel packages, are planned throughout the region - an unprecedented 100-day collaboration among the region's cultural, historic and hospitality venues. Scheduled events include:

· The Associated Press's Images of World War II at Union Station

· Corcoran Gallery's America's Four Freedoms on loan from the Norman Rockwell Museum

· Spies Among Us at The International Spy Museum

· Images of Memory: WWII Combat Art at the Marine Corps Museum & Historical Center

For more information on "America Celebrates the Greatest Generation" events produced by the American Experience Foundation in partnership with the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation and Cultural Tourism DC, please visit: http://www.americasgreatestgeneration.com

Remembering Our Nation's Heroes

We also would like to remind you that individuals wishing to honor members of the WWII generation can do so by enrolling them in the WWII Registry at http://www.wwiimemorial.com. The Registry database will be accessible at the National WWII Memorial site.

For more information regarding the dedication events, please visit http://www.wwiimemorial.com. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts to bring the National WWII Memorial to the American people.

Sincerely,

John P. Herrling
Major General, USA (Retired)
Secretary

RE: National World War II Memorial Dedication

ATTN: Chief of Staff, Constituent Relations Director, Communications Director

CC: Field Offices

[Please share this letter with staff members in your field offices, from whom we receive many inquiries regarding the May 29th dedication of the National WWII Memorial.]

Dear Member of Congress:

Thank you for your continued interest in the Dedication of the National World War II Memorial this May 29th in Washington, D.C., and for helping the American Battle Monuments Commission keep the public informed.

The public interest in attending the dedication ceremony has been extraordinary. With 3 ½ million living WWII veterans, we knew the demand would exceed our capacity to accommodate all who want to attend the ceremony. Our first priority has always been the members of the generation who served on the battlefront and the home front. To this end, we are pleased that overall, 60 percent of the 117,000 ticketed seats available will go to members of the WWII generation. Our seating sections span the Mall and include the MCI Center, and members of the WWII generation have been given the majority of the seats in each section.

Individuals who requested tickets should have received notification indicating how many tickets have been reserved for them. Constituents with questions regarding their ticket orders should be directed to our ticket hot line at 1-800-297-1421.

For those who will be in Washington over Memorial Day Weekend without tickets for the dedication, we are establishing a non-ticketed viewing area on the Mall that should accommodate about 10,000 individuals in seats and another 30,000 standing room attendees. This area will be between 10th and 14th Streets, adjacent to the Smithsonian's WWII Reunion described below.

We encourage you to alert your field offices and constituencies to ways the American people can experience this historic event from just about anywhere in the country. Here are the highlights:

Local Events of Celebration

Veteran Service Organizations across the country are organizing events to honor the WWII generation that will include viewing a specially-produced live satellite feed of the ceremony. In some cases the communities are planning large-scale events to honor local heroes. Your constituents should contact their local veteran service organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for more information about events in their areas.

Live Televised Coverage

The History Channel and C-SPAN have both agreed to carry the dedication ceremony live from start to finish beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 29, 2004. We also expect extensive news coverage of the events and special Memorial Day Weekend coverage focusing on the National World War II Memorial.

Other Options for Those without Tickets

The memorial should open to the public in mid-April 2004 and remain open through Friday, May 28th, so visitors may enjoy an early visit to the new memorial prior to the dedication weekend events. The memorial will be closed on Saturday, May 29th until at least one hour after the conclusion of the Dedication Ceremony, then reopen and remain open throughout the summer.

Smithsonian WWII Reunion, May 27-30, 2004

Coinciding with the dedication ceremony will be the "Tribute to a Generation: National World War II Reunion," a major four-day event produced by the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Admission is free and tickets are not required. The Reunion will take place on the National Mall between 3rd and 7th Streets. Highlights include:

· Reunion Hall: A Central Gathering Place for All

Veterans and their families are encouraged to socialize, relax, and get acquainted with others and reconnect with their service colleagues.

· Wartime Stories: Voices of a Generation

Come in for a chat with prominent World War II veterans and war workers. Narrative sessions, and interviews on a variety of topics will be featured in this pavilion.

· Veterans History Project Pavilion

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project will present interviews, speakers, and exhibits that showcase first-hand accounts collected from men and women, civilian and military, who served during the war. Information and workshops on how to write, record, and preserve personal histories will be provided.

· Preserving Memories

Experts from museums and archives will advise veterans and their families on how to preserve documents and material culture of WWII, such as letters, scrapbooks, diaries, maps, photographs, memorabilia, medals, uniforms, etc. Weapons will not be permitted.

· Building the WWII Memorial

Members of the architectural, engineering, landscape, and construction teams will discuss their roles in creating the WWII Memorial. This pavilion will also feature an exhibition by the City Museum of Washington on the planning and building of the memorial.

· Veterans Services

Representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs, federal agencies and other veteran service organizations will assist veterans and their families. Information on veteran's resources and benefits will be available.

· Family Activities: Passing It On

Families of all ages are invited to move from station to station, engaging in hands-on activities relating to the World War II period.

· Homecoming Stage & Capitol Canteen Stage

Share the sights and sounds of dance and music from the World War II era (big band, swing, boogie-woogie, military music, and more) in these two performance pavilions.

· Military Equipment Display

Throughout the Reunion site will be displays of military artifacts and equipment relating to World War II.

For more information on the National WWII Reunion please visit: http://www.folklife.si.edu/CFCH/wwiioverview.htm

America Celebrates the Greatest Generation - 100-Day Summer Tribute

Your constituents also can make plans to visit Washington, D.C. and the memorial throughout the summer to take part in a citywide, summer-long celebration called "America Celebrates the Greatest Generation." The celebration will kick-off Memorial Day weekend and continue through Labor Day weekend.

More than 80 WWII-themed exhibitions, performances, and walking tours, as well as hotel packages, are planned throughout the region - an unprecedented 100-day collaboration among the region's cultural, historic and hospitality venues. Scheduled events include:

· The Associated Press's Images of World War II at Union Station

· Corcoran Gallery's America's Four Freedoms on loan from the Norman Rockwell Museum

· Spies Among Us at The International Spy Museum

· Images of Memory: WWII Combat Art at the Marine Corps Museum & Historical Center

For more information on "America Celebrates the Greatest Generation" events produced by the American Experience Foundation in partnership with the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation and Cultural Tourism DC, please visit: http://www.americasgreatestgeneration.com

Remembering Our Nation's Heroes

We also would like to remind you that individuals wishing to honor members of the WWII generation can do so by enrolling them in the WWII Registry at http://www.wwiimemorial.com. The Registry database will be accessible at the National WWII Memorial site.

For more information regarding the dedication events, please visit http://www.wwiimemorial.com. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts to bring the National WWII Memorial to the American people.

Sincerely,

John P. Herrling Major General, USA (Retired) Secretary

Bruce G. Nitsche Veterans Liaison to the Secretary