Tom Hanks Announces $150 Million Expansion for National D-Day Museum And Honors Twelve Remaining World War II Veterans in Congress

Tom Hanks Announces $150 Million Expansion for National D-Day Museum And Honors Twelve Remaining World War II Veterans in Congress

		THE NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM AND TOM HANKS PAY TRIBUTE TO VETERANS Actor Tom Hanks and National D-Day Museum president Dr. Gordon Mueller pay tribute to the 12 remaining World War II Veterans in Congress at the "Salute to the Citizen Soldier" gala in Washington D.C. on Feb. 4, 2004. (PRNewsFoto)[AS] WASHINGTON, DC USA

		THE NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM AND TOM HANKS PAY TRIBUTE TO VETERANS Ten remaining World War II veterans in Congress and only Holocaust survivor in Congress receive the American Spirit Medallion presented by actor Tom Hanks at the "Salute to the Citizen Soldier" gala in Washington D.C. on Feb. 4, 2004. (PRNewsFoto)[AS] WASHINGTON, DC USA

Oscar Award Winning Actor Says That Honoring World War II Veterans In America's National World War II Museum Is an 'Urgent Mission' WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning actor Tom Hanks unveiled The National D-Day Museum's ambitious $150 million expansion last night and helped honor the twelve remaining World War II veterans and only Holocaust survivor currently serving in Congress. Hanks acknowledged at the event that honoring citizen soldiers in The National D-Day Museum, America's National World War II Museum, is a dream that he and the Museum's founder, author Stephen E. Ambrose, shared for more than five years. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040205/DATH027-a http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040205/DATH027-b ) "This is an urgent mission," said Hanks. "We are losing World War II veterans every day. Their stories form a foundation that is valuable for learning and sharing. I've supported this Museum since before its doors opened, and I am looking forward to working with others to build America's National World War II Museum." Hanks is the Honorary Chairman of the Museum's capital campaign for the expansion that will triple the size of the Museum located in New Orleans. The expansion will cover all of the theaters and services that played a role in World War II and include a national center for research on the War. Hanks and news correspondent Cokie Roberts served as hosts for the gala, The "Salute to the Citizen Soldier." The Congressional honorees included: Senator Daniel K. Akaka of Hawaii Representative Cass Ballenger of North Carolina Representative John D. Dingell of Michigan Representative Ralph M. Hall of Texas Senator Ernest F. "Fritz" Hollings of South Carolina Representative Amory Houghton of New York Representative Henry A. Hyde of Illinois Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii Senator Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey Representative Ralph Regula of Ohio Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska Senator John Warner of Virginia Representative Tom Lantos of California was also honored as the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress. Each honoree received an American Spirit Medallion from The National D-Day Museum in recognition for his service in Congress and in World War II. The medallions were presented by Hanks, Donald T. "Boysie" Bollinger, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President and CEO of the Museum, Dr. Gordon H. "Nick" Mueller. "These men have exhibited the values of the American Spirit, the values of teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice, throughout their lives' work," said Bollinger. "The National D-Day Museum promotes the exploration and expression of these values by future generations and honors the men and women who fought for democracy and freedom during World War II. We are proud to honor these thirteen men for their courage and duty." Hanks and Museum executives displayed drawings and a model of the expansion and outlined the campaign, entitled "Celebrating the American Spirit: Building America's National World War II Museum." Architects and designers for the Museum unveiled expansion designs from the recent national competition that resulted in their selection. Patrick Gallagher, President of Gallagher & Associates, exhibit designers for the Museum, and Bart Voorsanger, President of Voorsanger Architects, PC, presented overviews of their designs for the Museum's expansion. Bart Voorsanger has gained wide recognition for projects in Europe, Japan and the United States on museums, universities and airport architecture. Recent projects include the Asia Society Museum, the master plan for the University of Virginia and the renovation of Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport. Gallagher is a full-service design firm with expertise in museum planning and exhibition design. The firm has worked with the Smithsonian Institution, the International Spy Museum and the Newark Museum. The firm is currently designing the Visitors Center for the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy. Event co-chairman and honoree Senator Ted Stevens recounted Ambrose's vision for the Museum and recognized special guests of the evening, Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge. Senator Daniel Inouye, honoree and the other co-chairman recounted his experience in World War II and recognized Medal of Honor recipients and all World War II veterans in the audience. With an introduction by Cokie Roberts, Todd Anton, an American History teacher in Phelan, Calif., described his work on an oral history program with his students that generated more than 4,000 oral histories from veterans of World War II. Following dinner, Museum president and CEO, Dr. Gordon H. "Nick" Mueller presented the vision for the Museum's expansion and the steps taken thus far for the $150 million capital campaign. Mueller then introduced event sponsors who each gave a few remarks, including J. Wayne Leonard, Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation, Dr. Ron Sugar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Ken Dahlberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Science Application International Corporation. The United States Naval Academy Men's Glee Club closed the evening with a performance of God Bless America. Congress officially designated The National D-Day Museum in New Orleans as "America's National World War II Museum" on September 25, 2003. The resolution expressed the United States Government's support for the New Orleans Museum in continuing preservation and interpretation of artifacts, documents and history as well as the education of American people about experience in combat and on the home front during the World War II years. For more information about The National D-Day Museum, call 504-527-6012 or visit the web site at http://www.ddaymuseum.org .