This is a very special occasion. I had a chance to meet some of these gentlemen. We get underway and honor our greatest generation and look over the goals of what we would like to get done, i would like the chairman of the friends of the World War Ii National memorial. [applause] our greatest ally and most famous ally during the Second World War was winston churchill, who famously said succeeding generations must not be allowed to forget their sacrifice and their example. To me, the beauty and the urgency of assemblies like this, with people like this is what sir winston urged us to do. It is a great honor for all of us and we cannot wait to hear what you have to say, thank you. [applause] as we get underway, we would like to set a few goals to see what we would like to achieve because these gentlemen are valuable resources and we need to soak up as much as we can because they can have a story to tell. We would love to try to learn as much as we can from this panelist panel of heroes.
Before we do now as we call off each crirn, they will stand and well have old glory, the flag thats been taken around the world, presented to each one of them and theyll be saluted for their service. Presenting the flags is a father and son team, jason atiri from the national defense. Iversity and his son r. Garnett h. Hammond. Mr. Hammond enlisted in the u. S. Army reserves Officers Training corps while attending howard university, as an army soldier, he served in the you apparent theater in world war ii serving in england, france, and germany and was a tech 5 sergeant and served as a mail clerk until receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1946. After the war, mr. Hammond worked as the United States National Postal museum in washington, d. C. For 35 years. Ladies and gentlemen, mr. Garnett h. Hammond. Second is mrs. Burt bresher, serving with a woman accepted for volunteer emergency service, the waves, a unit of the United States naval reserve, mrs. Dresser was stationed as pontiff point
Latecomers and please make room for them as they rave. In fact, i think this marks more than 50 soldout programs since the start of 2017 here the Commonwealth Club. [applause] yeah. It is something to be proud of. Even after 114 years how old we are the Commonwealth Club still serves a very vital purpose, promoting nonpartisan public dialogue, bringing us together to speak civilly about issues that then to divide us. Sometimes like tonight, with humor. I want to thank our dedicated members, our donors, volunteers, all of you, who helped make this important work possible. Thank you. If youd like to do more for the club, take a look the poster on the all on your way out. A generous family of members the Commonwealth Club pledged a Million Dollars matching grants. All gifts made onsite will be matched twice. Meaning 5 decide turns into 15. 20 turns into 60. So this support will go to finish our Capital Campaign for the new billing which is new building which will be opened this year. Cont
They will be saluted for their service. Nting the flex is a presenting the flags is a father and son team from the National Defense university. As an army soldier, he served in the theater of operations during world war ii, serving in england, france, and germany. He was a sergeant and served as a mail clerk until receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1946. After the war, he worked as a u. S. Postal museum in washington dc for 35 years. [applause] second, a woman serving with Overture Service waves, the unit of the u. S. Naval reserve. She was stationed at rhode island from 1943 to 1946, working in the war bound office. [applause] the next, a chief Master Sergeant in the army in world war ii and was a prisoner of war. During his 18 months in activity in captivity he escaped 3 times from the germans and wants from the russian liberators. After the war he tried to join the army to go back to germany to find the nurse who kept him alive by sneaking him food. Unfortunately he was not allowed
We are seeking out individuals that he encountered while he was here. We interviewed some people that he talked to. We want to find out why did you come to baton rouge, what was his motive . Why was he targeting Police Officers . It was an ambushtype, style attack. We got to put this puzzle together and find out why that happened. Its important. Investigators say that long was trying to change his name last year, according to documents, and he was a member of a group that claimed to separate from state and federal governments. President obama addressed the nation hours after the tragedy in baton rouge. He expressed anger and sadness over the deadly ambush. The deaths of these three brave officers underscores the danger that Police Across the country confront every single day and we, as a nation, have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies violence against Law Enforcement. Attacks on police are an attack on all of us, and the rule of law that makes society possible. President obama