Joe Mantegna 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. Co-host Joe Mantegna discusses this year’s tribute to “Gold-Star families”… “FOR ME, PAYING TRIBUTE TO OUR ‘GOLD-STAR FAMILIES’ IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST-IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THE CONCERT, EVERY YEAR. I GO BACK TO THE FIRST YEAR I DID IT—WHICH WAS OVER 20 YEARS AGO. AND, THE FRIENDS I’VE MADE—THE PEOPLE I’VE MET—DURING THAT TIME FURTHER CLARIFIES HOW MUCH WE OWE TO THESE AMERICAN HEROES, AND THEIR FAMILIES. YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN AN ACTOR FOR OVER 50 YEARS. AND, I’M OFTEN ASKED, WHAT MESSAGE DO I WANT THE AUDIENCES TO WALK AWAY WITH? MY ANSWER ALWAYS IS, I’D WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO SAY, ‘THAT WAS TIME WELL-SPENT.’ AND, ALL I CAN SAY IS—AFTER 20 YEARS OF DOING THIS CONCERT MYSELF—EVERY TIME I DO IT, I FEEL IT’S THE BEST TIME SPENT OF ANYTHING I DO IN MY LIFE. SO, ALL I CAN HOPE IS THAT THAT AUDIENCE WALKS AWAY WITH THAT SAME FEELING.” This year’s lineup also features: Jean Smart; Gil Birmingham; 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”.