Honoring
History
Continued
“ WWI and America ” Guest Lecturers and Performers
Michael Neiberg – Ph . D ., History , Carnegie Mellon University – is the inaugural Chair of War Studies in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the United States Army War College . His published work specializes on the First and Second World Wars , notably the American and French experiences . The Wall Street Journal named his “ Dance of the Furies : Europe and the Outbreak of World War I ” ( Harvard University Press , 2011 ) one of the five best books ever written about the First World War . In October 2016 , Oxford University Press published his “ Path to War , a History of American Responses to the Great War , 1914-1917 .” Neiberg is also one of the distinguished collaborators of the annotated narrative collections available as “ World War I and America : Told by the Americans Who Lived It ” Project Reader edited by Pulitzer Prize winner A . Scott Berg .
Benjamin Wright , Board Member , Veterans Breakfast Club – Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Air Force Pilot . Lieutenant Colonel Wright was a pilot during the Vietnam War , the Cold War , and the Gulf War . He served during three remarkable historic eras – airlifting refugees out of Saigon , flying supplies into Communiststrangled West Berlin , and coordinating air support for the liberation of Kuwait . As Reverend Wright — an ordained Anglican minister — he continues to demonstrate the same work ethic and commitment to work with other people to get things accomplished as he did in his military position as base commander .
Todd DePastino – Ph . D ., American History , Yale University – is the Executive Director of the Veterans Breakfast Club , a 501 ( c )( 3 ) nonprofit dedicated to sharing veterans ’ stories with the public . The Veterans Breakfast Club has 500 active members in the South Hills and regularly attracts 100 to 150 people to its events . Over 3,500 persons have participated in the Veterans Breakfast Club ’ s programs and activities over the past seven years . DePastino is the author of the awardwinning “ Bill Mauldin : A Life Up Front ” ( W . W . Norton ) and five other books , and teaches at Waynesburg University .
David R . Shumway – Ph . D ., Indiana University – is Professor of English and Literary and Cultural Studies and Director of the Humanities Center at Carnegie Mellon University . In partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust , Shumway coordinated the 2015 and 2017 Pittsburgh Humanities Festival — a three-day gathering of internationally renowned academics , artists and innovators . The 2017 festival ( Being Human ) took place throughout the Pittsburgh Cultural District and neighboring locales . It offered conversations , interviews and performances focused on art , literature , music , science , policy and more , all helping to explore what it means to be human . Shumway ’ s special interests in American Culture include film , popular music , and late 19th and 20th century literature . He is the author of several books including “ Michel Foucault and Creative American Civilization :
A Genealogy of American Literature as an Academic Discipline ” and “ Rock Star : The Making of Musical Icons from Elvis to Bruce Springsteen .” He is currently writing a book on realism in American films , novels , television , and theater in the 20th century .
Peters Township graduate Valerie Williams is a professional singer and creative whose work encompasses performance , direction , choreography and arts education . Williams has been seen on Broadway and off-Broadway stages as a soloist with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra , Norwegian Cruise Line and in regional theater productions across the U . S . She holds a B . F . A in Musical Theater Performance from the University of Cincinnati ’ s College Conservatory of Music . Her favorite project to date is her full-length album “ Songs For Young Whippersnappers : Classic American Music , Reimagined for Children ”— available on iTunes , Google Play , Amazon and more .
St . Benedict the Abbot Church ’ s The Abbey Players is a theater troupe open to youth in 7th through 12th grade . The troupe was co-founded by Nicole Tafe and Lorra Brannen eight years ago and has grown tremendously over the years . While putting on several fully staged productions each year , the troupe also focuses on a motto of Prayer , Performance , Charity , and strives to give back to the community through fundraisers that benefit Relay For Life , Crohn ’ s and Colitis Foundation and more . For more information , contact Lorra Brannen at 724.825.8753 .
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