Virginia World War I and World War II Commemoration Commission
Tribute to Veterans
"Dawn of Infamy: America Goes to War"
Afternoon WWII Partners Forum Program Schedule:
December 07, 2016
Afternoon WWII Partners Forum
Community Curators: Partnering Together to Preserve the History and Heritage of WWII
1:30 p.m.
Afternoon Partners Forum (Jepson Alumni Center)
Community Curators: Partnering Together to Preserve the History and Heritage of WWII
Welcome - April Cheek-Messier: President, National D-Day Memorial Foundation; Chair, Virginia World War II Heritage Alliance
Signature Events and Activities over the next 4 years
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Virginia World War II Commission Update
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Spirit of ’45 Activities Update
Panel Discussions:
2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
What’s Next: Creating Community Curators
The four-year commemoration will be a vibrant, educational, and poignant reminder of our WWII generation. But what comes after the commemoration? Exhibits and events will come and go. Once the events are over, what is left behind to keep the next generation learning about the achievements of the greatest generation, and how can we work together to sustain their legacy? This panel explores a few important initiatives happening now to preserve the legacy of WWII and how others can tap into these resources or form their own to ensure that our WWII history remains accessible, engaging, accurate and educational. Teachers, civic organizations, museums, historical societies, state agencies, veterans' groups, or anyone interested in preserving our WWII heritage is invited to attend. Panelists include representatives from the Virginia War Memorial, the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, the MacArthur Memorial and the Spirit of ’45.
3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: BREAK
3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
A Lasting Legacy
What can your community, organization, museum, or state do to participate in establishing programs for the next four years and what are the steps to make it successful? From funding sources to establishing permanent projects that engage young people and encourage heritage tourism, find out how to make the most out of marketing, tapping into regional resources, finding sponsors, donors, and corporate support while encouraging other agencies to get involved. This panel looks at various partners throughout the country and what they are doing to preserve the lessons and legacy of WWII and how others can get involved. Speakers include Lois Bolen who will discuss the creation of Florida’s WWII Heritage Trail.
4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Presentation: Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr.
WWII-related organizations are entering the phase of memory that Civil War groups and sites faced around the 1930s, as veterans passed away, reunion groups began to dissolve, and the chance to hear first-hand accounts of the war began to fade.
With this thought in mind, renowned Civil War author and scholar, Dr. James I. Robertson will discuss the parallels, and how history enthusiasts were able to preserve and honor the lessons of a vanishing generation. Dr. Robertson was Executive Director of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission and worked with Presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson in marking the war’s 100th anniversary. Fifty years later, he served as a charter member of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission. He is the author of over 40 books related to the Civil War.
Dr. Robertson’s presentation will focus on what we can learn from the Civil War generation. What could that generation have done differently that we can do now before the last or our WWII veterans are no longer with us?
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Summary and Conclusion