World War II conference rescheduled for November
The conference will be one of the largest gatherings of historians, journalists, Medal of Honor recipients and World War II veterans ever assembled since the end of the war more than 60 years ago. It was originally scheduled for October 2005.
"The force of Hurricane Katrina may have postponed the museum's first International Conference from its original 2005 dates, but the magnitude and importance of this event, and the popular excitement it generated, reinforced our determination to present it in 2006," said the Gordon "Nick" Mueller, museum CEO. "Presenting this conference and reopening the museum in the aftermath of Katrina demonstrate the resilience of the American spirit and our museum's strong commitment to be in the vanguard of the city's recovery efforts."
The conference will look back on how the war was fought, the way it was won, and what it means today. Speakers include former war correspondent and CBS newsman Walter Cronkite; World War II bomber pilot and former Sen. George McGovern; war correspondents Andy Rooney and Richard C. Hottelet; James Bradley, author of "Flags of Our Fathers;" filmmaker Ken Burns, who will preview his new World War II documentary; and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, who will discuss the liberation of eastern Europe and the development of the Cold War and the collapse of communism subsequent to World War II.
Former California Gov. Pete Wilson, chairman of the museum's board of trustees, said a special program has been added to the opening day of the conference. Selected recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor will participate in a panel discussion to inaugurate the four-day event. Wilson and the medal recipients also will dedicate a new special exhibition, "Beyond the Call of Duty: The Medal of Honor in World War II."