Oscar nominee and Emmy and Tony-Award winner Laurence Fishburne will join Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna to host the 28th annual edition of PBS’ National Memorial Day Concert. For almost three decades, PBS has inspired viewers with this deeply moving and reverential night of remembrance dedicated to our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country. Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise, who has co-hosted the concert for the past eleven years, will present a 75th anniversary salute to the Doolittle Raiders, the daring aviators who changed the course of World War II in the Pacific.
The all-star line-up for the event includes: distinguished American leader Gen. Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); world-renowned four-time Grammy Award-winning classical superstar Renée Fleming; multi-platinum recording artist and star of television, film and the Broadway stage Vanessa Williams; country music superstar Scotty McCreery; Grammy nominated, multi-platinum selling artist John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting; acclaimed actor John Ortiz ; Broadway and television star Christopher Jackson; distinguished actress Ana Ortiz; legendary Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan; and the United Kingdom’s best-selling cross-over artist Russell Watson; in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly (additional performers to be announced). The gifted actress and singer Auli’i Cravalho will open the show with a special performance of the National Anthem.
Broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the 28th annual broadcast of the National Memorial Day Concert airs on PBS Sunday, May 28, 2017, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. ET, before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The concert will also be live-streamed online on Facebook Live and www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert and available as Video on Demand for a limited time only, May 28 to June 10, 2017.
Also participating in the event are the U.S Joint Chiefs of Staff with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, the Armed Forces Color Guard and Service Color Teams provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.
The 2017 National Memorial Day Concert will feature the following segments:
- A celebration of the 70th anniversary of the United States Air Force and some of the most skilled aviators of World War II…the Tuskegee Airmen. These legendary, African-American pioneers will be honored at the U.S. Capitol by Laurence Fishburne, who was Emmy-nominated for his role in the highly acclaimed THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.
- Severely injured in an IED blast, Captain Luis Avila’s injuries were so extreme that his doctors did not see hope. His wife, Claudia, never gave up. With extensive treatments and the emerging technique of music therapy, Captain Avila has made remarkable progress. The Avila’s story is one of courage, faith, perseverance and hope.
- 2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, the daring bombing mission over Tokyo that changed the course of the war in the Pacific. The concert will honor the bravery of the Doolittle Raiders, recognizing sole surviving member, 101 year-old Lt. Col. Dick Cole, and pay tribute to the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II.
- America’s Gold Star families of all generations bear the burden of battle long after the death of their beloved service members. The concert will share the healing journey of a Gold Star family from the Vietnam era, now supporting other grieving families from recent conflicts.
- A moving tribute to the legacy of Jerry Colbert, Founder and Executive Producer of Capital Concerts, who passed away in January, 2017.
The program is a co-production of Michael Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.
This article was submitted to VAntage Point by the production team for the 2017 National Memorial Day Concert.
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I’m a 100% service connected veteran with spinal column and spinal cord injuries. My ruptured discs and fractured cord fibers are being carved up 24/7 and because have been using opioids for decades dealing with 3 types of severe pain. In past year I’ve been removed from methadone permanently and my health has been in worsened shape because of these new programs. I understand not all patients require methadone, but many of us require it to be useful people in society. The past year I’ve only been housebound as a result of this. My question is whether the government truly seeks to support its honorable veterans or simply trying to eliminate them to reduce financial burdens of medical support. Reasons I ask, is my VA, has in fact made 7 attempts against my life in 5 years by prescribing poisonous medications, denying emergency services, refusal to send ambulance for failing liver/kidneys. My experiences with the VA has been less than humanitarian. Matter of fact the cruelty to animals are more serious crimes than those against this and other veterans in California. WHY??