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SENATOR ROBERT J. DOLE TO BE HONORED
BY THE NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM ON MARCH 8 IN WASHINGTON , D.C.
NEW ORLEANS – March 1, 2005 – The National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, American's National World War II Museum, will honor Senator Robert J. Dole by presenting him with the American Spirit Award on Tuesday, March 8 in Washington, D.C.
The American Spirit Award recognizes an individual who best exemplifies the outstanding qualities of the American Spirit, including teamwork, optimism, courage, and sacrifice, and who promotes the exploration and expression of these values through their own life and actions.
This year, the National D-Day Museums is honored to pay tribute to Senator Dole as a great World War II hero and American statesman.
Senator Dole enlisted in the US Army in 1943 and was a platoon leader with the legendary 10 th Mountain Division in Northern Italy . In 1945, he was gravely wounded on the battlefield and was decorated for heroic achievement, receiving two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster.
Rising through the ranks of the Republican Party, Senator Dole served as a member of the House of Representatives, chairman of the Republican Party, Senate Majority Leader and his party's nominee for vice president. He resigned from the Senate in June 1996 to campaign as the Republican nominee for president. In January 1997, Senator Dole received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
Awarded by the Trustees of The National D-Day Museum, the American Spirit Award is the Museum's highest honor. It is given, not on an annual basis, but only as recipients are identified who meet the criteria for the award in a unique and meaningful manner. Senator Robert J. Dole is a most worthy recipient of The American Spirit Award.
“Senator Dole has exhibited the values of the American Spirit, throughout his life” said Chairman of The National D-Day Museum Foundation's Board of Trustees, David R. Voelker. “The National D-Day Museum promotes the exploration and expression of these values by future generations and honors the men and women who fought for democracy and freedom during World War II. ”
In 2004, The National D-Day Museum held a very successful gala in Washington , D.C. to launch its national capital campaign that will triple the size of the existing Museum over the next 5 – 7 years. The expansion will feature exhibits that cover all of the theaters and service branches of World War II and include a national center for research on the War.
Major corporate sponsors for this years event include: James Barksdale, BellSouth Corporation, FedEx Corporation, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, Voorsanger Architects, Mathes Brierre Architects, Voorsanger Architects- PC, Goodyear, Alston & Bird, LLP, and Verizon Communications.
Congress officially designated The National D-Day Museum in New Orleans as “ America 's National World War II Museum” on September 25, 2003. The resolution expressed the United States Government's support for the New Orleans Museum in continuing preservation and interpretation of artifacts, documents and history as well as t
he education of American people about experience in combat and on the home front during the World War II years.
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