Friday, Mar 2, 2007
On Wednesday, February 21st, General Peter Pace, President Bush's top military advisor and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and Vancouver National Historic Reserve as part of the annual General George C. Marshall lecture series. General Pace and top military brass, including General Lowenberg, Brigadier General Toney and Brigadier General Majonigle, arrived within park boundaries at Pearson Field aboard two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
After a pre-event reception in the historic reserve, General Pace delivered the Marshall lecture to approximately 5,000 listeners at adjacent Hudson's Bay High School, then returned to the reserve for a reception at the Marshall House on Officers Row. Other attending dignitaries included U.S. Senator Patty Murray, U.S. Congressman Brian Baird, Commander Bruce Donaldson (commander of the Canadian Fleet Pacific), Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire, General Wesley Taylor (president of the Marshall Foundation), Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard, Superintendent Tracy Fortmann, VNHR Trust President Elson Strahan, and a number of state and local elected officials and other dignitaries.
Superintendent Fortmann met with General Pace briefly at the Marshall House. "He thanked me for all that we, the National Park Service, do at this very special site," said Fortmann. "He was very gracious, noting that the historic reserve is steeped in history and worthy of doing everything we can to preserve and share its rich history with the American people."
National media attention was high, and security was provided by federal, state, and local officers.
The Marshall lecture series is presented by Celebrate Freedom, an educational program of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust in partnership with the City of Vancouver.
More information on General Pace's visit can be obtained online from the Department of Defense at http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=3133
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