Photo: PBS / Capital Concerts
The annual PBS National Memorial Day Concert returns for 2022 more powerful, more potent and more important than ever.
After running the annual concert virtually for the last two years, Capital Concerts brings National Memorial Day Concert back to PBS in person and it is more powerful, more potent and more important than ever. The annual special, along with its more celebratory sister, A Capitol Fourth, are some of PBS most watched specials each year and that's for very good reason. National Memorial Day Concert expertly shines a light on the brave men and women who have given their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy each and every moment of each and every day. Through powerful stories of our fallen service members to beautiful musical performances and touching tributes, it is an entertaining 90 minutes that gently focuses our attention towards honoring America's true heroes.
Gary Sinise (left) and Joe Mantegna (right) co-host a special presentation of the "National Memorial Day Concert" on PBS. Copyright: Paul Morigi (prmorigi.com) Photo: Capital Concerts
This year, Emmy winning Gary Sinise and Tony Award winning Joe Mantegna return to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC, inviting America to join them in this loving tribute. Lucifer star Dennis Haysbert will honor the incredible legacy of General Colin Powell, while Yellowstone and Under The Banner of Heaven star Gil Birmingham will share the story of Francis Whitebird, a Lakota Native American who is a Purple Heart recipient, having served in Vietnam.
Photo: PBS
Three time Emmy winner Jean Smart (Hacks) will join Mantegna in telling the story of Gold Star family, The Grahams. Maj. General Mark Graham and his wife Carol lost their son Senior ROTC Kevin Graham to his battle with depression within 8 months of losing their son 2LT Jeff Graham who was killed in an IED blast in Iraq. The Grahams now advocate for a focus on mental health for servicemen and women, veterans and their caregivers through Vets 4 Warriors - a non-profit dedicated to offering 24/7 peer support for services, resources and a confidential no judgement zone from specially trained veterans. Vets 4 Warriors help line is 1-855-838-8255.
Photo: Capital Concerts
Tony Award nominee Mary McCormack will give a tribute to the women who served in World War II, helping to preserve the stories of women we never hear enough about in American history. Country music star (& U.S. Army veteran) Craig Morgan, Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens, Pia Toscano, Grammy, Emmy and Tony nominee Norm Lewis and Tony winner Alfie Boe will all perform songs paying tribute to our nation's fallen and give comfort to those who love them.
At a time in our Nation's history when it seems like divisions are too strong an unending, National Memorial Day Concert returns to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to unite us all as Americans in paying a loving, touching tribute and national "Thank You" to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for us. Grab a drink and a snack, a box of tissues and some family and friends and if you haven't yet, start the tradition of taking the 90 minutes to honor those who gave their lives for us to have the freedoms we enjoy each day. I promise you that you won't regret it.
Watch National Memorial Day Concert 2022 on PBS tonight at 8pm via your local PBS station or, the National Memorial Day Concert website or on the official Facebook page. You can also watch National Memorial Day Concert 2022 live on PBS YouTube channel and for two weeks following.
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