The Trust for the National Mall Celebrates Dwight D. Eisenhower's Birthday with a Commemorative Concert
THE TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL HOSTS STIRRING AND INSPIRATIONAL CONCERT TO HONOR PRESIDENT AND GENEARL DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
On October 14, 2022, the Trust for the National Mall welcomed supporters, friends, school groups and the public to a commemorative concert in honor of Dwight D. Eisenhower featuring the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” to honor the birthday of the 34th president and decorated general.
As the sun cast golden rays across the memorial, guests arrived to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial and were greeted by volunteer docents from the award-winning volunteer program comanaged by the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service. The volunteers shared insights into the memorials’ design and architectural choices. For instance, many of the plant species and grass at the memorial are native to Eisenhower’s home state of Kansas.
The Trust raises funds to support and expand educational and volunteer programming at the memorial and grow the Dwight D. Eisenhower preservation fund. The Trust is working in partnership with the National Park Service to expand its award-winning volunteer program at the Eisenhower Memorial to additional sites across the National Mall.
The concert began with remarks from one of the volunteers who shared information about the National Mall’s newest memorial and was followed by Trust for the National President & CEO Catherine Townsend, who welcomed the crowd of over 100 audience members. Kansas State Representative Susan Estes then shared how Eisenhower was not only an accomplished general but also an influential president whose policy transformed travel, infrastructure, education, technology and more. In 2022, the Trust for the National Mall created the Friends of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, chaired by Representative Estes, which will support the operations and programming at the memorial and continue the living legacy of President and General Eisenhower.
The U.S. Army Band began its incredible suite, which included “Variations on a Shaker Melody” as well as “Happy Birthday.” Many in the crowd were enraptured by the memorial’s glowing tapestry that illuminated the band and buoyed the emotion behind the incredible music that echoed through the memorial as nighttime set in.
The Trust is grateful to its partners at Clark Construction for supporting the evening’s celebrations. To stay up-to-date on exclusive, one-of-a-kind events like this one, visit our “Events” webpage and follow us on social media!
Photo Gallery
Photos by the Trust for the National Mall.
