Montgomery County, Md. For Immediate Release
August 28, 2012
Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-777-7939 / Donna Bigler 240-777-6507 / Delphine Harriston 240-777-7931
N E W S
Ted Koppel Will Host, Congressman Van Hollen and Lt. Governor Brown Will Be Among Speakers as Montgomery to Honor World War II Veterans on Wed., Sept. 19 Special Program in Silver Spring Will Salute Heroes Who 70 Years Ago Were Part of History That Changed the World ROCKVILLE, Md., August 28, 2012—Ted Koppel, who for 25 years hosted the ABC News show ightline, will be the host and one of the speakers and Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown also will be among the main speakers at the Silver Spring Civic Building on Wednesday, Sept. 19, as Montgomery County salutes the men and women who served the nation in World
R E L E A S E
War II. County Executive Isiah Leggett, Council President Roger Berliner and the County Council will lead the special ceremonies for Montgomery Honors WW II Vets that will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Civic Building located at One Veterans Plaza in downtown Silver Spring. The event will be simulcast live on many of the County’s public cable television channels that compose the PEG (Public, Education, Government) Network. In addition, the PEG Network will be recording the stories of many of the veterans for a documentary that will be broadcast on the cable stations. Montgomery Honors WW II Vets event organizers are currently seeking to contact more of the veterans who will be honored on Sept. 19. Those veterans, or family and friends of the veterans, seeking more information about the event should call 240777-7929. More than 80 World War II vets have already confirmed they will be attending and that number is expected to more than double in what will be the largest ceremony to honor Washington area World War II vets in recent years.
2 Mr. Koppel was the anchor of ightline from the program's inception in 1980 until his retirement in late 2005. After leaving ightline, he worked for three years as managing editor for the Discovery Channel and currently is a contributing correspondent to the NBC News primetime newsmagazine Rock Center with Brian Williams. The son of German Jewish parents who fled Germany due to the rise of the Nazi regime, Mr. Koppel grew up in England. His family moved to the United States when he was 13. He said he had great admiration for the American soldiers he saw as a young boy in England and wanted to be part of the Montgomery Honors World War II Vets program. "I've been waiting 67 years to say thank you,” he said. “I'm thrilled to finally have that opportunity." Lt. Governor Brown is a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and is the highest ranking elected official to have served a tour of duty in Iraq. "As a state and as a nation, we share a collective responsibility to honor the service of those who have worn our country's uniform," said Lt. Governor Brown. "Each and every day, we're learning more about the difficulties that our fighting men and women face, both abroad on the field of battle, and at home. Now, more than ever, it's important that we continue to support all of our veterans, especially those who, as members of the Greatest Generation, sacrificed so much so that we could have a chance to live freely and peacefully today." Congressman Van Hollen, who represents Maryland’s 8th District, is a former professional staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has a strong background in national security policy. He is active in issues related to U.S. foreign policy. World War II veterans who have committed to attend the event have been involved in some of the best known aspects of the war, including the D Day invasion of Normandy, the Battle of Bulge and the Battle for the Remagen Bridge over the Rhine River. One veteran served on a destroyer that sank more enemy submarines than any other. Veterans who served in segregated units of all black soldiers and all JapaneseAmerican soldiers also will be attending, as will veterans who played key roles in military intelligence and counter intelligence. “It has been almost seven decades since our World War II veterans returned home,” said County Executive Leggett. “We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge their courage and patriotism and say thank you for making the world a better place. As a veteran of the Vietnam War, I know the sacrifices that are made by members of our military during times of war. This event is a perfect way for all of us to pay tribute to these brave and honorable men and women.” Speakers will include veterans who served in various aspects of World War II.
3 “So many in our community heroically served our nation, and the world, 70 years ago,” said Council President Berliner. “September 19 will be a day where our County recognizes those whose actions helped change the course of the world. There have been many books written, and many movies made, about the people we will honor, but on this day, we will personally thank—and hear directly from—some of the men and women who did so much to shape the life and freedom we know today.” ####