October:  A Month to Remember George C. Marshall

 

Marshall Remembered, Secretary Gates to be Honored

 

The Marshall Foundation will commemorate the 50th anniversary of General Marshall's death on October 16 with a graveside wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the U.S. Department of State where U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates will receive the George C. Marshall Foundation Award.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Army Chief of Staff George W. Casey, Jr. will deliver remarks at the luncheon.  Each is expected to talk about George Marshall's legacy of selfless service and his relevance today.  During his long career Marshall held each of the three positions currently occupied by Secretaries Gates and Clinton and General Casey. 

Secretary Gates will be honored for his distinguished career in public service, which includes 27 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, two years of which he served as director and nine years at the National Security Council serving four presidents.  

Robert Gates has been Secretary of Defense since December 2006.  Prior to his appointment as secretary he was President of Texas A&M University and interim director of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service.  He will be introduced by Lt. Gen Brent Scowcroft, USAF (Ret.), who is a former national security advisor to two presidents.

The George C. Marshall Foundation Award honors an individual for demonstrated leadership and personal and professional qualities practiced by George C. Marshall throughout his life of extraordinary public service.  Criteria for selection include a career of distinguished public/civic service in the tradition of George C. Marshall, dignity and integrity of character, devotion to creating and perpetuating free and democratic institutions and nonpartisanship or bipartisanship.

The invitation-only luncheon will be held in the elegant 8th Floor Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the State Department. 

 

Symposium to Focus on Marshall as Strategist, Statesman

The Marshall Foundation and Virginia Military Institute will co-host a seminar on October 23 and 24 at the Center for Leadership and Ethics at VMI.  The symposium, George C. Marshall: Servant of the American Nation, will focus on the remarkable legacy of George Marshall.  Marshall graduated VMI in 1901.

Panelists will discuss Marshall as soldier, leader, peacemaker and diplomat.  Author and historian Mark Stoler will discuss Marshall's legacy at lunch on Saturday.  Dr. Stoler, editor of the Marshall Papers, is concluding work on the sixth book of a seven-volume set.  

Former VMI Superintendent Josiah Bunting will deliver the Friday dinner address on "The Mind of Marshall."  Gen. Bunting has just finished writing a book on Marshall to be published soon. 

If you are interested in attending, you may take advantage of discounted, early enrollment that expires September 30. 

Visit www.marshallsymposium to learn more.