AMERICANS, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PAUSE FOR NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE AS OLD GLORY’S JOURNEY COMES TO A CLOSE
White House Commission and AMVETS honor veterans on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2008—Shortly before 3 p.m., on Monday, May 26, Old Glory was unfurled for the last time on Capitol Hill, officially concluding the Journey of Remembrance. As Bugles Across America played taps, the nation paused for the National Moment of Remembrance. Earlier in the day, President Bush called on all Americans to pause for this moment, along with every Major League Baseball team and the national Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C., in honor of those who died serving this nation. Blinded veterans and a contingent of Pearl Harbor survivors received special recognition during the ceremony from the White House Commission on Remembrance and AMVETS, who have partnered to orchestrate the six month, nationwide flag-raising tour.

“As this journey winds down, I can see that it has served as a powerful reminder to all Americans that we must continuously acknowledge the contributions that our veterans have made to the cause of liberty,” said AMVETS First Vice Commander John C. Hapner, who spoke at the ceremony on Capitol Hill. “In the months since Old Glory flew over Hawaii and embarked on a journey across our great land, thousands of Americans have come together to pay tribute to our veterans and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

During Monday’s ceremony, the Kansas Braille Transcription Institute and a group of blind school children presented Braille American flags to three blinded veterans; Brian Pearce, Thomas Miller, and Dr. Thomas Zampieri. Miller is the Executive Director and Zampieri is the Director of Government Relations for the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA). The Kansas Braille Transcription Institute is a non-profit organization out of Wichita, Kan., that provides training and employment to increase services for the visually impaired.  The flags were presented through a cordon of young adults from Ft. Bragg, N.C., whose parents are currently deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Back in December, AMVETS and the White House Commission on Remembrance officially kicked off Old Glory’s Journey of Remembrance with simultaneous ceremonies on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Since then, Old Glory has flown over numerous historic sites in 20 states, counting down to the National Moment of Remembrance.

“Each stop on this countdown has been a way for Americans to remember exactly what our men and women in uniform have fought for throughout our history,” said AMVETS National Commander John P. “JP” Brown III. “AMVETS is proud to have worked with the (White House) commission to make this possible, especially with our close ties to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.”

On Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day, Old Glory flew over the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii. Other historic sites on the journey include Fort McHenry in Maryland, Palo Alto Battlefield in Texas, Chalmette in Louisiana, Independence Hall and Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania, Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, and Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

“Wherever we have raised Old Glory over the last six months, AMVETS has been there to remind all Americans that we owe a debt of honor to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Carmella LaSpada, Executive Director of the White House Commission on Remembrance. “Though Old Glory’s Journey officially ends on Memorial Day, I know that we have preserved the memory of the fallen, who laid down their lives so that we may live in peace.”

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