ABC News' Stephanopoulos Joins May 21 Tribute in D.C. to Fallen Troops

ABC News' Stephanopoulos Joins May 21 Tribute in D.C. to Fallen Troops

ABC News' Stephanopoulos to Serve as Master of Ceremonies for 'A Time of Remembrance' in Washington May 21

News Correspondent Joins First-of-Its-Kind Tribute to Honor Military Families From Across U.S.

WASHINGTON, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- George Stephanopoulos, Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News and anchor of ABC's Sunday morning news program "This Week" will serve as master of ceremonies for "A Time of Remembrance" Sunday, May 21, 2006 at noon on the National Mall at the Washington Monument Grounds.

Stephanopoulos regularly conducts interviews with prominent figures in the Bush administration, members of Congress and key foreign leaders including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, as well as Libyan President Muammar Qaddafi.

The first-of-its-kind event -- "A Time of Remembrance" -- is expected to bring more than 3,000 family members of American soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq to the nation's capitol to be joined by descendants of American heroes from every war dating back to 1776. They will honor those who fought and died to protect the U.S.

Organized by the White House Commission on Remembrance, which was created by Congress in 2000 as an independent, non-partisan agency intended to raise awareness about America's fallen troops and those they left behind, "A Time of Remembrance" will honor America's military history and those who served in the war on terrorism and in combat overseas.

A key element will be the presentation of the specially-created Gold Medal of Remembrance to children of military men and women killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq. The medals will be presented by General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and R. James "Jim" Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

A Time of Remembrance will begin at noon on Sunday on the National Mall at the Washington Monument, and is planned to continue 90 minutes. Among its features:

* Introduction of family members who lost a relative in each of America's
conflicts, including descendents of Nathan Hale from the Revolutionary
War, the Sullivan Brothers from World War II and descendents of those
who died in the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf wars.
* The presentation of the Gold Medal of Remembrance to the children of
the fallen in Afghanistan and Iraq.
* The National Anthem sung by Tuskegee Airman Esra M. Hill, Sr. and the
Army Chorus.
* Remarks by dignitaries including U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska.
* A flyover by military aircraft.

Families are expected to attend from every one of the 50 states as well as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

Congress established The White House Commission on Remembrance in 2000 as an independent government agency to encourage Americans to honor the sacrifices of America's fallen and the families they left behind. It promotes acts of remembrance throughout the year, and is tasked to unite the country in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. each Memorial Day.

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance

CONTACT: Ben Barbin of White House Commission on Remembrance,
+1-202-783-4665, or barbin@remember.gov

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