The dedication of Washington, DC�s newest national treasure on Memorial Day weekend 2004 will launch an unprecedented region-wide salute to the men and women who served in World War II. The promotion, titled �America Celebrates the Greatest Generation,� includes an array of more than 90 World War II-themed exhibitions, performances, walking tours, and hotel packages in Washington, DC and the Capital Region. Running from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2004, the 100-day tribute will invite travelers to visit the newest national memorial in the nation�s capital and to honor the contributions of the World War II generation. From themed walking tours to patriotic hotel packages, �America Celebrates the Greatest Generation� highlights the impact and influence of the generation on art, music, history and culture on Washington, DC, the United States and beyond.

�The opening of the World War II Memorial is an important event for Washington, DC as well as for the world. As visitors come to the nation�s capital to pay their respects to World War II veterans, we invite them to join in �America Celebrates the Greatest Generation��a much-deserved salute to the men and women who defended the symbols of democracy we proudly display here in the nation�s capital,� said William A. Hanbury, president & CEO of the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation.

The 100-day tribute begins with the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)�s official dedication events, May 27-May 30. Seats to the dedication of the National World War II Memorial were snapped up in less than two months by more than 100,000 members of the World War II generation and their families, but visitors can take part in a four-day National World War II Reunion on the National Mall, produced in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution�s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. �America Celebrates the Greatest Generation� expands the tribute beyond the Memorial Day weekend events and invites visitors from around the world to come to the nation�s capital during the summer to visit the new memorial and take advantage of ongoing themed programming.

At museums throughout the region, summer exhibitions explore various cultural and artistic achievements of the World War II era. Among the highlights:

� Rockwell�s Four Freedoms: Paintings That Inspired a Nation: The Corcoran Gallery of Art displays four of Norman Rockwell�s most famous works of art from the Norman Rockwell Museum, made to illustrate President Roosevelt�s 1941 speech to a joint session of Congress (May 19-September 6).
� The National World War II Memorial: Paying Tribute and Making Memory on the Mall: The City Museum and Historical Society of Washington, DC offers information about the National Mall and its changing face over the past 200 years, a review of previous monuments on the Mall, and the memorial approval and construction process. This feature exhibit also explores the World War II Memorial�s design elements, symbolism, and craftsmanship. (June 2004-November 2005).
� Images of World War II: The View of Three Artists: PEVUE, Inc. and the National Association of Black Veterans present the WWII-inspired work of three African-American artists: Mel Bolden, Herron Briggs, and Joe Sam.
� Women Air Service Pilots of Maryland: Remembering Their Service: The College Park Aviation Museum honors the contributions of WASPS from Maryland to the U.S. victory (May 27-August 30).
� Spies Among Us: The International Spy Museum examines espionage during World War II through real-life spy stories. Activities and exhibits explain the Enigma cipher machine, the Navajo Codetalkers, the use of propaganda during the war, intelligence failures surrounding the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and more (ongoing).
� Images of World War II: Union Station and The Associated Press will feature more than 100 photographs of WWII, including Joe Rosenthal�s iconic picture of the Marines raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi at Iwo Jima. (May 23-June 2 and June 27-August 1).
� A Work in Progress- The Restoration of General George C. Marshall�s Personal Residence: Visitors can be among the first to tour the Dodona Manor/ George C. Marshall International Center in Leesburg, Virginia, where Marshall lived from 1941-1959.
� Churchill and the Great Republic: The Library of Congress hosts the first comprehensive exhibition of Winston Churchill material in the United States, presented in conjunction with the Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge, UK (through June 26).

In addition to the special exhibitions, the influences and impacts of the generation will be explored through events throughout the summer. At the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, a month-long film series will highlight films about World War II drawn from AFI's 100 Years�100 Movies list, including Casablanca, The Bridge on the Rivier Kwai, Patton, and others. Throughout June and July, the Avalon Theatre, the oldest surviving movie house in Washington, will present films about WWII in its classic film series. Dubbed A Parade Salute to America�s Greatest Generation, this year�s National Independence Day Parade will include more than 40 veterans and military units, floats, veterans organizations, and specialty units. Special weekend events throughout the region include a USO Weekend in Alexandria, Virginia, July 17-18, complete with a military band concert and a performance by the Liberty Belles. In Calvert, Maryland, the Calvert Marine Museum will hold an August 6-8 weekend commemoration of the U.S. Navy�s first Amphibious Training Base, built at Solomons, Maryland, during WWII.

Visitors can also take a stroll through Washington, DC�s WWII history through themed tours designed by washington walks. �Eleanor Roosevelt�s Washington� recounts the story of Mrs. Roosevelt�s life as First Lady, mother, and activist, including a guided tour of the FDR Memorial. For children, �In Fala�s Footsteps�Discovering the FDR Memorial� will examine the life of the president from the point of view of Fala, his famous dog.

Performing arts groups will join in the celebration with special performances that tie into the World War II salute. The Kennedy Center will welcome productions of plays and musicals inspired by the era, including Broadway hit musical The Producers and Tennessee Williams� The Glass Menagerie. The Dance Institute of Washington and Washington Reflections Dance Company will take dance lovers back to the 1940s with Washington Swing, a spring ballet recital with touches of Lindy Hop and Jitterbug music.

Restaurants are also getting into the spirit of the summer celebration with patriotic food and drink specials. Taking inspiration from World War II Victory Gardens, Federalist (at The Madison hotel) will serve war time recipes using fresh local ingredients, including

Meat and Vegetable Layered Casserole (which uses a hearty mix of garden vegetables to stretch meat further, hearkening back to the days of meat rations) and Applesauce Raisin Cake (which uses the sweetening qualities of applesauce and raisins to cut the amount of sugar, which was also rationed). Palette, The Madison hotel�s chic new restaurant, will serve up two all-American cocktails, the Waving Flag (Kettle One citron, sour mix, soda, Campari and Blue Cura�ao) and the Starburst (citrus vodka, amaretto, and cranberry).

To enable visitors to take advantage of summer savings on hotel rooms and the incredible array of cultural programming, �America Celebrates the Greatest Generation� packages are available at several hotels throughout the region. Special summer weekend rates begin at $99 per night and include amenities such as free breakfast, free parking, and free third night stays with purchase of two nights.

For a complete lineup of events, hotel packages, and more, log on to www.americasgreatestgeneration.com.

�America Celebrates the Greatest Generation� is a 100-day tribute to the heroism, culture and heritage of the World War II generation. At the heart of this celebration in Washington, DC and the Capital Region is the long-awaited dedication of the National World War II Memorial. From Memorial Day through Labor Day 2004, more than 140 WWII-themed exhibitions, performances, walking tours, restaurant experiences and hotel packages pay tribute to the men and women who served in World War II and on the home front. Music, art, theatre, dance, film and literature all play a part in the summer-long salute. �America Celebrates the Greatest Generation� is produced by the American Experience Foundation in partnership with the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation and Cultural Tourism DC. americasgreatestgeneration.com. 1-800-422-8644, ext. 1945.

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