The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
1521 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Announces:
Victims Of Communism Memorial Foundation Salutes President Lech Walesa
The reception Co-Chairs are: Mr. William F. Buckley, Ms. Midge Decter, Mr. Steve Forbes, Sen. Chuck Hagel, Rep. Jack Kemp, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, and Mr. & Mrs. Paul Windels III
For his tremendous courage, inspiration, and leadership in helping to end communism and advance peace, freedom, and democracy worldwide, H.E. Lech Walesa, Solidarity Founder, Nobel Laureate, and former President of Poland, will be honored by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation with a gala reception at New York City’s landmark Metropolitan Club on Wednesday, April 26, 2006.
Lech Walesa’s contributions to ending communism and the Cold War in Europe stand beside those of Pope John Paul II, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, President Ronald Reagan, and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. His efforts in founding and leading the 10-million-member Solidarity movement that ended communist leadership in Poland and throughout the rest of Eastern Europe earned Walesa the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989, and Time Magazines Man of the Year in 1982. In 1990, as Poland’s first democratically elected president, Walesa set the newly-independent nation on the path to becoming a successful free market democracy. Today, Walesa travels the world and speaks to audiences on behalf of the Lech Walesa Institute, a foundation that advances the ideals of democracy and free market reform throughout Eastern Europe and the rest of the world.
In addition to the distinguished guest of honor, many prominent government, international, and corporate leaders will show their support by attending the reception, including U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel, Mr. William F. Buckley, Rep. Jack Kemp, and Mr. Steve Forbes.
The reception will benefit the VOC Foundations construction of a permanent statue and plaza to memorialize the more than 100 million victims of communism worldwide, and is made possible by numerous individual contributions, as well as generous commitments from corporate sponsors, including Pfizer Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Phillips International, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and LOT Airlines.
The VOC Memorial Plaza will feature a 10-foot bronze replica of the Democracy statue which was erected by Chinese students in Tiananmen Square in 1989, and is itself based on our own Statue of Liberty. The plaza is expected to become a key destination for visitors from around the world, and will be located in Washington, DC at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue NW, New Jersey Avenue NW, and G Street NW, across from the Georgetown University Law Center and two blocks from Union Station and the Metro.
Lech Walesa is a pioneer of democracy in Eastern Europe, as well as a leader in the transition to democracy for the rest of the world, said VOC Foundation Chairman Dr. Lee Edwards. We are honored that our celebration of his noble beliefs and historic legacy will enable us to raise the funds necessary to build a living legacy that will remain relevant and inspiring for generations to come, and ensure that the sacrifices of over 100 million innocent people are never forgotten.
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization established by an Act of Congress to build a memorial in Washington, DC to commemorate the more than 100 million victims of communism; to honor those who successfully resisted communist tyranny; to educate current and future generations about communism’s crimes against humanity; and to pay tribute to those who helped win the Cold War. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
WHAT: Victims of Communism Memorial Foundations gala reception to salute H.E. Lech Walesa
WHERE: The Metropolitan Club, 1 East 60th Street, New York, NY
WHEN: Wednesday, April 26, 2006, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM