Our Year In Review
Throughout the year , the American Veterans Center & World War II Veterans Committee remain committed to ‘ guarding the legacy and honoring the sacrifice ’ of our veterans , from World War II and beyond .
Over the next several pages , we recap many of our continuing efforts to achieve this important mission over the past year . Here , you will read about our programs to “ Guard the Legacy ” of our veterans through educational programs for America ’ s youth , as well as our work in preserving the stories of our veterans .
You will also learn how we “ Honor the Sacrifice ” of our veterans and military heroes through public events and our award-winning television and multimedia programs .
GUARDING THEIR LEGACY OUR EDUCATION AND PRESERVATION
THE ANNUAL VETERANS CONFERENCE & NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Over Veterans Day weekend , 2015 , many of America ’ s most distinguished and decorated veterans gathered in Washington for the American Veterans Center & World War II Veterans Committee ’ s 18th Annual Veterans Conference .
The conference - televised nationwide by C-SPAN - brought these veterans together with upwards of 500 students from each of our military service academies and more than two-dozen ROTC programs from across the country , where they shared their personal experiences and lessons on leadership .
The National Youth Leadership Summit portion of the Annual Veterans Conference provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for tomorrow ’ s leaders to learn from those of the past and present .
Pictured clockwise from left , academy and ROTC students meet with : former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff & American Veterans Center Honorary Chairman General Richard Myers ; Thomas Mangrum of the 761st Tank Battalion in WWII , the first African American tankers in Army history ; Lt . Col . Richard E . Cole , Jimmy Doolittle ’ s co-pilot on the legendary Doolittle Raid ; and famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin .
“ I had to pinch myself several times as I stood in front of my childhood heroes , the men and women who made and continue to make this country great ... I learned in greater depth than ever before this nation ’ s history directly from the mouths of those who made it .”
- MIDSHIPMAN TAYLOR BUCK , U . S . NAVAL ACADEMY
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