PBS’s 2011 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT:
AN AMERICAN TRADITION HONORING
OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN
Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna Co-Host Live From the U.S. Capitol
with General Colin Powell, Kris Allen, Dianne Wiest, B.B. King,
Hayley Westenra, Daniel Rodriguez and the National Symphony Orchestra
Pensacola, Fla. — For over two decades, PBS’s NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT has led the nation in honoring the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country. The multi award-winning event will be co-hosted for the sixth year by Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CSI:NEW YORK) and Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna (CRIMINAL MINDS), two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veteran’s causes and supporting our troops in active service. The multi award-winning event, broadcast from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, will air live in high-definition on WSRE Sunday, May 29 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.
The all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists joining Sinise and Mantegna for the 22nd annual broadcast includes: distinguished American leader Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); American Idol winner Kris Allen; Academy and Emmy Award-winning actress Dianne Wiest; King of the Blues B.B. King; classical superstar Hayley Westenra; and America’s beloved tenor Daniel Rodriguez, the New York city policeman who united the country after the September 11 terrorist attacks. They will perform with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. The U.S Joint Chiefs of Staff will also participate in the event along with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy 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. Consistently one of the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade, THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT became the number four top-rated program in primetime and the number two top-rated musical performance special on PBS for the 2009-2010 season.
