World War I Centennial Commission Announces Key Participation in Advance of April 6 Commemoration

Actor Kevin Costner to Lend Voice to WWI Centennial Commission Commemoration

Washington, D.C. — The United States World War I Centennial Commission announced the participation of Kevin Costner as well as international, national, and local dignitaries in anticipation of the national ceremony, “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace: Centennial Commemoration of the U.S. Entry into World War I,” at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo. on April 6.

At a press briefing, WWI Centennial Commissioner and President and CEO of the National WWI Museum and Memorial Dr. Matthew Naylor announced that actor, producer, and director Kevin Costner will narrate part of the ceremony’s text. The actor’s participation comes on the heels of confirmed participation of Gen. Paul J. Selva, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the French delegation headed by Minister of Defense Jean-Yves LeDrian, and the Belgian delegation headed by Minister of Defense, Steven Vandeput.

The Commission confirmed the attendance of ambassadors from Belgium, Guatemala, Italy, Latvia, Malawi, Slovenia and the Ukraine and announced the honorary host committee comprised of Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II, and Kansas City Mayor Sylvester “Sly” James. Debra Anderson, quartermaster general of the Veterans of Foreign War and WWI Centennial commissioner, also noted the attendance of Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer, and relatives of WWI heroes Gen. George S. Patton and Gen. John J. Pershing, Helen Patton and Sandra Pershing.

French-born, American citizen and WWI Centennial Commissioner Dr. Monique Seefried noted the importance of American involvement in WWI, “My reason for being with you today is to tell you how grateful I am as a French-born woman for what Americans did twice in a century to save France… at the time of WWI the United States entered the war for purely unselfish and idealistic reasons: for peace and democracy. These were noble reasons, and even if the peace was short, and democracy failed in most of Europe, American soldiers gave their lives fighting for values we highly respect still today. We should never forget them, nor forget the nearly 20% of foreign-born Americans who served in WWI.”

“In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace: Centennial Commemoration of the U.S. Entry into World War I” will begin at 9 a.m. CDT with a stunning prelude and pre-ceremony multi-media production that illustrates American life in 1917 as the horror of war unfolded on the battlefields of Europe. It will recall the impassioned arguments from our countrymen and women both for and against involvement in the Great War.

A limited number of ceremony tickets will be available to the general public Thursday March 23 at www.ww1cc.org/april6. Guests may reserve up to four tickets through an online ticketing system on a first-come, first-serve basis. For schools and group reservations, a limited number of group tickets will also be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Media credentialing is also available at www.ww1cc.org/april6.

To watch the “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace” Press Briefing click on the image above.

About the World War I Centennial Commission

The Commission was established by the World War I Centennial Commission Act, passed by the 112th Congress and signed by President Barack Obama on January 16, 2013, and is responsible for planning, developing, and executing programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I. The mission is to educate the country’s citizens about the causes, courses and consequences of the war; honor the heroism and sacrifice of those Americans who served, and commemorate the Great War through public programs and initiatives. To learn more about the Commission activities, visit ww1cc.org/tools.

To further the mission, the Commission is leading the effort to build the National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, D.C. to honor the 4.7 million American veterans who served. To learn more about the Memorial, visit ww1cc.org/memorial.

The Commission’s founding sponsor is the Pritzker Military Museum and Library (PMML) in Chicago, Ill. PMML is a nonpartisan research institution dedicated to enhancing public understanding of military history and the sacrifices made by America's veterans and service members. To learn more about PMML, visit www.pritzkermilitary.org.

The presenting sponsor for “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace: Centennial Commemoration of the U.S. Entry into World War I” is the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) in Kansas City, Mo. The VFW is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces. To learn more about the VFW, visit www.vfw.org.

About the National World War I Museum and Memorial

The National World War I Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum holds the most diverse collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America’s National World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National World War I Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.

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