Eight to air live National Memorial Day Concert honoring troops

Eight, Arizona PBS to air live: An All-Star Salute to Our American Heroes

PHOENIX — (May 13, 2013) Eight, Arizona PBS will honor the immense service and sacrifice provided by America’s men and women in uniform and their loved ones during its live broadcast of the 24th Annual National Memorial Day Concert on May 26 at 7 p.m. The multi-award-winning program will be co-hosted for the eighth year by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds) and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CSI: New York), two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veteran’s causes and supporting troops in active service. A star-studded lineup of performers will grace the stage on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol before an audience of hundreds of thousands, as well as millions of viewers nationwide, and U.S. troops serving around the world watching via the American Forces Network.

The program will include appearances by distinguished American leader General Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.), “Dancing With the Stars” finalist and classical cross-over artist Katherine Jenkins; singer-songwriter and “The Voice” finalist Chris Mann; and acclaimed Tony award-winning tenor Alfie Boe in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. The show will feature talent by six military ensembles, including the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, the Armed Forces Color Guard and Service Color Teams provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

The 2013 event will feature:

• A tribute honoring service members who have had multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, focusing on the impact on these men and women and their families.

• A tribute to all those who served during WWII including remembrance of Charles Durning, decorated WWII veteran, distinguished actor and longtime contributor to the National Memorial Day Concert who passed away in December 2012.

• On the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, the broadcast will pay tribute to the heroic service of the soldiers who fought and perished in this “forgotten war.”

The broadcast will be supported by a resource-rich website at pbs.org/memorialdayconcert. Highlights include a “Virtual Wall of Remembrance,” where viewers can share tributes to our veterans and fallen heroes; suggestions on what viewers can do to support veterans and their loved ones in their communities; and resources for service members and their families. 

The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.