The FDR Memorial Legacy Committee marked the 25th anniversary of the FDR Memorial with the addition of a statue of FDR in his wheelchair. As well as an acknowledgment of Eleanor Roosevelt's contribution. Eleanor Roosevelt is currently the only First Lady to have a statue in a presidential memorial.
Over 100 individuals attended the commemoration at the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce, James Roosevelt, Jr., attorney and grandson of U.S. President Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were among the special guests.
"It is fitting that we gather at this wheelchair statue which shows the President's poise, resilience, and strength," said U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "Today our task remains the same and to honor FDR's legacy it is up to each and every one of us to continue to keep the light of democracy's precious flame aglow. Not only overseas but here at home."
The U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on Tuesday afternoon had a panel discussion "The FDR Memorial - A Reflection on the Past and a Plan for the Future," hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Jonathan Capehart.
Panelists included former Democratic Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, David Woolner, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and Resident Historian at the Roosevelt Institute, and Mary Eileen Dolan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee.
The 90-minute conversation focused on the evolution of the FDR Memorial and how it may affect the future of our nation's monuments.
"I think we as adults have a responsibility to educate our children accurately, and inclusively, and not just some stories deserve to be told," said Valerie Jarrett, CEO, Obama Foundation. "But that all stories that make up our nation deserve to be told."
Every year, over three million people visit the FDR Memorial, with each visit offering an opportunity for education.
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