U.S. WORLD WAR ONE CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ENTERS FORMAL PARTNERSHIP WITH
GOVERNMENT OF FLANDERS

LEUVEN, Flanders, Belgium, April 26, 2016 -- The U.S. World War One
Centennial Commission yesterday signed a partnership of mutual support
with the Government of Flanders regarding the commemoration of the
Centennial of World War I in a ceremony here.

The Government of Flanders, which represents the Northern Dutch-speaking
part of Belgium, has set up special programs to provide public education
and commemoration for the war. Flanders, and Belgium as a whole, saw
some of the greatest loss of life on the Western Front of the First
World War, in particular from the three battles of Ieper (Ypres).

This new agreement calls for the two organizations to share their
experience, knowledge, and technical means as they prepare for the
commemoration of the American intervention in World War One.
Specifically, it identifies four areas for particular cooperation: 1)
the identification and planning of the main events, 2) communication,
digital and cultural cooperation, 3) education, and 4) remembrance
tourism.

Daniel Dayton, Executive Director of the Centennial Commission, and Koen
Verlaeckt, Secretary General of the Flanders Department of Foreign
Affairs, signed the document in a small ceremony at the University
Library of Leuven, a 15th century building which was destroyed in World
War I, but was restored with American assistance.

"The challenging events of the First World War helped to forge a special
bond between the people of the United States and the people of Flanders"
said Secretary General Verlaeckt, "This agreement is designed to
encourage our people to mutually remember, explore, and foster those
strong bonds".

Executive Director Dayton echoed that sentiment "The story of World War
I is multifaceted, with many important lessons for us to embrace. This
agreement will help the people of Flanders, and the people of the United
States, to better understand what happened one hundred years ago, and
how it continues to touch our lives today."

WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION TO HOST A PRESS EVENT AT DC NATIONAL
PRESS CLUB 18 MAY AT 11AM

FEATURED SPEAKER IS FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON PANETTA

WASHINGTON, DC: The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission will host a
media event at the National Press Club in Washington DC on Wednesday, 18
May, at 11:00am.

Further specific details will be provided in the coming weeks. Event
will provide an update on Centennial Commission activities, to include
new international partnerships, and to introduce new members of the
senior advisory board.

Among those new members is renown statesman, lawyer, and professor,
Secretary Leon Panetta, Secretary Panetta is former Secretary of
Defense, former White House Chief of Staff, former Director the the CIA,
former director of the OMB, and former U.S. Representative from the
State of California.

His biography can be found here.
http://www.panettainstitute.org/about-us/institute-people/leon-panetta/

The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission was created by Congress in
2013 to provide suitable public education and commemoration programs for
American service in the war.

More information on the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission can be
found at www.ww1cc.org