Laser light show caps night of celebration during Dole Institute dedication at KU

LAWRENCE -- With the push of a button, former Sen. Bob Dole will begin a spectacular laser light show that will end a night of celebrations paying tribute to the "Greatest Generation."

The laser light show, one of the many activities planned for the dedication of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, July 19 through 22, will begin at 10 p.m. Monday, July 21.

"For all intents and purposes, the building will be unveiled for the first time during that laser show," said Erik Nelson, associate director for the institute.

The 3 1/2-minute laser light show also will bring attention to one of the building's most prominent features: the 36-foot-tall American flag stained-glass window.

People are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to watch the show, which is free and open to the public.

Larry Sprang, laser lighting technician at Visual FX in Merriam, said the show would include a high-power green laser system and several moving lights that would cascade the Dole Institute and shoot out over the berm and reflecting pool in front of the building. The show will be set to "Chester," an 18th-century patriotic song composed by William Schuman.

Sprang said the building's design and special features will lend themselves wonderfully to the laser light show.

"The concave design allows us to do a lot in the front of the building," he said. "That, along with the stained-glass flag, will make for a very dramatic finale."

The laser light show will conclude an evening of star-studded events paying tribute to the men and women who along with Dole served during WWII.

Earlier in the evening, a gathering of dignitaries will pay homage to the WWII generation at the Lied Center. The event, "A Salute to the Heroes: An Evening to Remember," will begin at 8 p.m. Among those scheduled to speak are NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, former presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former senators George McGovern and Nancy Kassebaum-Baker.

A variety show modeled after the United Services Organization, or USO, shows that entertain the troops will immediately follow the speakers.

Both events at the Lied Center are sold out, but the general public can view the events for free on the 30-foot-tall video screen just outside the institute.

Diana Duff, director of archival operations at the National Archives in Kansas City, Mo., and organizer of the USO-style show, said the Lied Center would be decorated to resemble the atmosphere of a WWII show, complete with camouflage netting, cartons of ammunition crates and lighting that resembled the jeep headlights that were used in USO shows.

Duff said the show was just one more way to thank members of the WWII generation for the sacrifices they made for their country.

"They were alone over there, and one of the few pieces of home they had was these traveling USO shows," she said. "So this is another opportunity for our nation to say thank you, to say that we remember and to give another tribute."

Among those scheduled to perform for the USO-style show are:

 • Award-winning professional dancers Louie Barr and Laura Cantu of Kansas City, who will perform an Argentine tango
 • Four couples from Kansas City called "The Swingsters," dancing the jitterbug
 • Comedian David Naster
 • Songs from the more than 90 members of the Kansas City chorus of the Sweet Adelines
 • Vince Leseney, voice instructor at the University of Oklahoma, who will sing popular tunes of the WWII era
 • A performance of the a cappella quartet Four's Company, of which Duff is a member
 • Former Kansas City weatherman and comedian Dan Henry will be master of ceremonies

For more information about the Dole Institute dedication events, visit www.doleinstitute.org/dedication.

The four-day dedication program will include the ConocoPhillips military air parade and a fashion show; a re-created USO-style performance; an evening of dancing to the Glenn Miller Orchestra; and an outdoor concert by the 312th Army Band as well as the formal dedication. Among the dignitaries attending the events are former presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, author of "The Greatest Generation." The events will start at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 19, with the kickoff of the Memory Tent, which will begin with "Heroes of Lawrence, Part 1."

For more information about the event visit www.doleinstitute.org/dedication or www.dolemedia.ku.edu.