Richie Havens, Mitch Ryder and Starship to Play for Vets; New November Festival to Celebrate America and Its Heroes.LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1998--It's a celebration long overdue, and it's happening on Friday, Nov. 6 (5 p.m. to midnight); Saturday, Nov. 7 (noon to midnight); and Sunday, Nov. 8 (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) -- the weekend preceding Veterans Day -- on the grounds of the West Los Angeles
It's VetFest America, and it's billed as "A Celebration of America and Its Heroes." VetFest America is exactly that -- a celebration of America, in so many ways. Food will include the perfect American hamburger and a "jeep full of apple pie apple pie typical, wholesome American dessert. [Am. Culture: Flexner, 68] See : America ." American music will be live all weekend long and will feature artists whose music connotes a particularly relevant period or moment in American history. Acts such as Richie Havens, Mitch Ryder Mitch Ryder (born William S. Levise Jr., February 26 1945, in Hamtramck, Michigan) is an American musician. Career Ryder is noted for his gruff, wailing singing style, much influenced by Little Richard, and his dynamic stage performances, influenced by James Brown. and Jefferson Starship Jefferson Starship was an American rock band popular in the 1970s and 1980s. It developed from San Francisco-based psychedelic rock group Jefferson Airplane. History Paul Kantner/Jefferson Starship have already signed on. The festival is also creating history pavilions featuring significant moments in American history. There will be lectures from historians, orators and decorated honorees, including Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell Ben Nighthorse Campbell (born April 13, 1933) is an American politician. He was a U.S. Senator from Colorado from 1993 until 2005 and was for some time the only Native American serving in the U.S. Congress. Campbell was a U.S. . The Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. is conducting an essay contest on "America," and the winning essays will be featured at the festival. All the music and speeches all weekend will be transmitted free over the Internet to all VA hospitals nationwide. "I've wanted to do an event like this for a long time," said VetFest producer Howard Mauskopf, who also produces the Garlic Festival and the highly acclaimed Best of L.A. Festival. "Veterans Day is celebrated less than most other holidays, and we want to change that." The famous "Moving Wall," a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vietnam Veterans Memorial, war memorial in Washington, D.C., built 1982. Designed by the American sculptor and architect Maya Ying Lin, it is a sloping, V-shaped, 493-ft (150-m) wall of highly polished black granite that descends 10 feet (3. in Washington, D.C., has already been consigned for the occasion. "It's a remarkable experience to watch people approach the wall and search for the names of their loved ones. You can really feel the outpouring of love and emotion," said Mauskopf. "Public sentiment toward America is positive right now, as it should be," Mauskopf added. "Recent economic woes elsewhere have underscored the strength and stability of the American system. Social woes elsewhere have underscored the level of freedom we enjoy. "Every American knows that he or she owes a huge debt of gratitude to those that have protected that freedom, so that America could not only survive, but flourish. We want to celebrate this and do it with a party, not with a somber ceremony. VetFest will commemorate America, and we'll do it with lots of music, food and fun," Mauskopf concluded. VetFest is presented by the Brentwood Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI BBRI Belgian Building Research Institute ), a nonprofit research institute affiliated with the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center to benefit veterans. "BBRI conducts a broad range of scientific studies in an effort to improve the health and well-being of veterans who have served our nation," said Lynn McAfee, executive director of BBRI. "If we can further that goal and create new public awareness for our work and the work of others at the VA, and do it in a celebration full of revelry Revelry Revenge (See VENGEANCE.) Reward (See PRIZE.) Bacchanalia festival in honor of Bacchus, god of wine. [Rom. Religion: NCE, 203] Boar’s Head Tavern scene of Falstaff’s carousals. [Br. Lit. and respect, then everybody wins. We're looking forward to VetFest." Note to Editors: A toll-free line has been established for more information at 877/VETFEST. |
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