On Memorial Day weekend, PBS unites our nation with an evening that has become an American tradition. The multi-award-winning National Memorial Day Concert honors the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home, and all those who have given their lives for our country. The 2009 event commemorates 20 years on air as the nation's memorial service, offering viewers a time to remember, to heal, and to bring our country together. The program is co-hosted for the fourth year by Emmy Award winner Gary Sinise (CSI:New York) and Tony Award winner Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veteran's causes and supporting our troops in active service. The top-rated show will be broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on PBS Sunday, May 24 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the Armed Forces Radio and Television Network.

Joining co-hosts Sinise and Mantegna is an all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists including: distinguished American leader Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); two-time Academy Award-winning actress Dianne Wiest; singer Katharine McPhee (American Idol); country music superstar Trace Adkins; Tony Award-winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell; celebrated Broadway star Colm Wilkinson (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera); acclaimed opera star Denyce Graves; classical music superstar Lang Lang; and Grammy-nominated violin virtuoso Robert McDuffie in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of maestro Erich Kunzel, recipient of the National Medal of Arts. The U.S Joint Chiefs of Staff are also participating in the event along with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters, the Armed Forces Color Guard and Service Color Teams provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.   Performance Time:  Approx. 90 minutes 

Rehearsal Schedule: On Fri., 5/22 & Sat., 5/23, the gates open to the public at 5 p.m. with rehearsals at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about directions and security procedures, please visit:
www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/salute/information.html

PLEASE NOTE: No alcohol is allowed.

The National Memorial Day Concert is made possible by grants from Disabled American Veterans and Golden Corral Restaurants, the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, the National Endowment for the Arts, PBS, and public television stations nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.