New York, NY (Top40 Charts / Capital Concerts) For over a quarter century, PBS has inspired viewers with the annual broadcast of the multi award-winning NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT (#MemDayPBS), dedicated to our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country. Live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the night of remembrance will honor the over 400,000 valiant men and women who are laid to rest in the hallowed grounds of Arlington
National Cemetery; and chronicle the experiences of the millions of American veterans who still suffer from the seen and unseen wounds of war.
Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna (CRIMINAL MINDS) and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CRIMINAL MINDS: WITHOUT BORDERS) are set to co-host this poignant and heart-warming event for the 11th year. The acclaimed actors, whose dedication to the show is evident, are also longtime supporters of veterans' causes and our troops in active service. The all-star line-up includes: distinguished American leader General Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); world-renowned four-time Grammy Award-winning classical superstar Renee Fleming; iconic music legends The Beach Boys; gifted actress and singer Katharine McPhee (SCORPION); country music star and Grammy-nominated member of the Grand Ole Opry Trace Adkins; Emmy, Golden
Globe and SAG Award-winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson (CHICAGO MED, LAW & ORDER); Award-winning actor Esai Morales (MOZART IN THE JUNGLE); plus Tony Award-winning international sensation Alfie Boe, who has just joined the Broadway cast of the smash hit FINDING NEVERLAND; in performance with the
National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. And marking the end of an era, Trent Harmon, the final winner of AMERICAN IDOL, will open the show with a special performance of the "National Anthem." The 27th annual broadcast of the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT airs live on PBS Sunday, May 29, 2016, from 8:00 to 9:30 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.
Also participating in the event are the U.S Joint Chiefs of Staff 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 Band 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.
The 2016 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT will feature the following segments:
In the hallowed ground of Arlington
National Cemetery every headstone tells a story. Over 400,000 valiant men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice and are buried in its sacred soil. The concert will highlight the story of two of these American heroes.
There are millions of American veterans still suffering from the seen and unseen wounds of war. The concert chronicles the journey of one Vietnam veteran who overcame his wounds by sharing his experience and compassion with other veterans.
The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C. Executive producers Jerry Colbert and Michael Colbert have assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television's most prestigious entertainment shows including the GRAMMY AWARDS, COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, TONY AWARDS, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, and more.
About Capital Concerts
Capital Concerts is the production force behind two of television's longest-running and highest-rated live programs commemorating America's most important holidays. THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT, the nation's tribute to our men and women in uniform, and A CAPITOL FOURTH, our country's biggest birthday party, have become American traditions that have consistently ranked among the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade. The holiday specials have been honored with over 70 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Telly Award, the Golden Cine Award, the Videographer Award, the
National Education Association Award, the
Aurora Award, the
Christopher Award, the Communicator's Award, the AXIEM Award, the Omni Award and the Writer's Guild of
America Award.
Underwriters
The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT is made possible by grants from the Lockheed
Martin Corporation, the
National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, General Dynamics, PBS and public television stations nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.
