The Library hosted a lively discussion on civil rights on April 11. Supervisory Archivist Bob Clark welcomed the audience and Michael McCoy, assistant professor of history at SUNY Orange led an hour-long panel discussion on civility and democracy in America as it relates to civil rights issues. The program was part of the “Fireplace Lounge Chats” discussion series on civility and democracy in America — in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home. With support from a New York Council for the Humanities grant, a group of regional political scientists, educators, historians and local politicians are presenting eight “Fireplace Lounge Chats” throughout the Hudson Valley.
The second of two programs to be held at the Roosevelt Library in the month of April will occur on April 25 focusing on FDR’s presidency. These expert-led discussions feature representatives from local colleges, area high schools, county legislatures, the Roosevelt Library and SUNY Orange. The issue examined across all eight programs is the question of civility in American political discourse and how it relates to the topic of the evening.
Public Programs and Education staff at the Roosevelt Library are working hard to prepare for this year’s Memorial Day Weekend activities. Events will kick-off with the annual USO Show on Friday, May 25, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. This program features WWII-era entertainment taking visitors back to the Roosevelt days as attendees enjoy an evening of comedy and entertainment, historic film footage, and music from the 1940s. On Saturday, May 26, 2012 and Sunday, May 27, 2012 the Roosevelt Library will present a weekend of World War II displays inside the Henry A. Wallace Center.
Re-enactors in battle dress will be on hand to share their love of history with World War II enthusiasts, families, teachers, and students. Collections of military uniforms, prop weapons, and insignia will be on display. Period military vehicles will also be on display in the courtyard of the Wallace Center and musicians will perform live music from the 1940s both Saturday and Sunday on the stage in the Multipurpose Room.
On Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, the National Park Service will host a Graveside Memorial Service at 3:00 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the Home of FDR National Historic Site. Guests of honor will include 25 sailors from the Guided Missile Destroyer USS ROOSEVELT (DDG 80), named in honor of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and adopted by Dutchess County and Hyde Park by resolution in 2009. All Memorial Day Weekend events are free, pubic events. Please come and enjoy them!
I hope the FDR Library will use these days as opportunities to tell the American people — especially those who were born after 1945 — about some of the wonderful programs and policies FDR implemented, policies and programs that helped ALL Americans.