Gil Birmingham discusses the 2022 National Memorial Day Concert

On Sunday, May 29th, P-B-S’ “National Memorial-Day Concert” returns live from Washington, D-C—hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise. With all-star musical performances and tributes, the event honors our men and women in uniform; veterans; their families; and all of those who’ve given their lives for the nation. This year’s Concert also includes Gil Birmingham presenting a special segment honoring those who served during the Vietnam War—with a focus on combat-medic Francis Whitebird… “WELL, I GREW UP IN A MILITARY-FAMILY; MY FATHER WAS A 30-YEAR CAREER-MAN. SO, FROM THE TIME I WAS BASICALLY FIVE YEARS OLD, I REMEMBER MOVING EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS. AND SO, WHEN MEMORIAL DAY CAME AROUND, IT WAS A COLLECTIVE AND COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE OF REMEMBERING THE DEEP SERVICE AND THE RESPECT THAT WE HAD FOR OUR VETERANS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES—OR THE ARMED SERVICES, OUR MEN AND WOMEN, AND THE SACRIFICES THEIR FAMILIES HAVE MADE. IT WAS ALWAYS A VERY HEARTFELT AND SOULFUL EXPERIENCE: SOMETIMES, WE WOULD DO THE GENERAL BARBECUES AND, MAYBE, JETS FLYING OVER. BUT, THE REAL, PROFOUND MEANING WAS THE TOUCHING OF OUR SOULS WITH THOSE OF THOSE LOST, AND THOSE WHO’VE SERVED.” This year’s lineup also features: Jean Smart; Mary McCormack; Dennis Haysbert; Lea Salonga; Norm Lewis; Craig Morgan; Rhiannon Giddens; Brian Stokes Mitchell; and Pia Toscano—with the “National Symphony Orchestra”. The Concert airs on P-B-S—and streams live on You-Tube—Sunday, May 29th, at eight p-m, Eastern. To learn more, visit “p-b-s”-dot-org-slash-“memorial-day-concert”.