George McGovern to recall his WWII stories in special session at Lied Center

LAWRENCE -- War hero and former presidential candidate George McGovern will recount his World War II experiences in a special session at the Lied Center as part of the dedication ceremonies for the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas.

McGovern's session will begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, at the Lied Center on KU's West Campus. The session is free and open to the public.

He will be one of many war heroes recording their war stories as part of the dedication ceremony's "Memory Tent" event. A complete list of scheduled speakers for the Memory Tent, which will be located just south of the institute, is available at http://www.ur.ku.edu/News/03N/JuneNews/June10/dolememory.html.

McGovern flew 35 combat missions as a B-24 bomber pilot in Europe, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. A native of South Dakota, he was elected to Congress in 1956 and was the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee. McGovern also has received many honorary degrees and distinguished awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, which President Bill Clinton bestowed upon him Aug. 9, 2000.

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.