News from
George C. Marshall's Dodona Manor
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On July 4th, the Buck Stops at Dodona Manor!
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Our annual July 4th Celebration is just around the corner! Join us on the grounds of Dodona Manor following the Downtown Leesburg Independence Day Parade for a reenactment of the visit President Truman and his daughter Margaret paid to Dodona on July 4, 1950. Refreshments, including free ice cream, will be provided.
Truman’s 1950 visit to Dodona came at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. On July 1, 1950, four senior government officials had visited Marshall to seek his advice about the unfolding crisis in Korea: Dean Acheson (Secretary of State), Averell Harriman (special assistant to President Truman), Charles Bohlen (special adviser to Acheson) and George Kennan (another special adviser in the State Department). The four concluded that Truman needed to hear Marshall’s ideas. Truman called Marshall on July 2 and asked him to come to Washington on July 5.
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Truman couldn’t wait, however, and he awoke Marshall on July 4 with another phone call, giving Marshall an hour’s notice that he was coming to Leesburg that morning. In addition to hearing Marshall’s views about Korea, Truman wanted to assess if Marshall was willing to take the position of Secretary of Defense. We invite you to hear the rest of the story on Monday! |
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Thank you to everyone who joined us on June 5 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Marshall’s momentous Harvard speech outlining the principles for European post-war recovery.
Two hundred guests participated in the festivities at Dodona Manor, which featured remarks from Her Excellency, the British Ambassador to the U.S., Madam Karen Pierce and senior diplomats from the embassies of Sweden and Luxembourg.
Historian David Hein and business leader William Bachman shared their perspectives on the enduring impact of Marshall’s vision and leadership. Board Chairman Stephen Chapin concluded with remarks detailing the future of the Marshall Center.
Local dignitaries Mayor Kelly Burk and Council Members Zach Cummings and Neil Steinberg celebrated with us.
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Stay tuned for details on more special events this year commemorating this milestone anniversary. |
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Students Donate Time and Elbow Grease |
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Summers at Dodona Manor are full of outdoor projects, and this summer is no exception. Every year, our volunteers put hours of effort into the grounds and building exteriors to maintain the beauty and historical integrity of the property. This year, ten Loudoun County High School seniors made significant contributions to this effort as part of their Captains Outreach project.
From mid-May to early-June, the students assisted our garden volunteers with weeding, hoeing and thinning the vegetables in Marshall’s garden, as well as weeding and watering the flower beds. They washed the first-floor windows of the house and helped rearrange and reorganize storage under the house. Finally, they worked on scraping, repairing, priming and painting the railings and stairs behind the garage.
We’re grateful to these students for the role they’ve played in preserving the Marshalls’ home, story and legacy. We look forward to working with several of them further as greeters and docents.
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In Bloom: Re-imagining the Edwards Ferry Road Embankment |
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If you traverse Edwards Ferry Road regularly, you‘ve probably noticed a change to the steep embankment next to the Dodona Manor driveway. Thanks to generous donations from our neighbors and local businesses, we were finally able to clear the area of invasive plants like English ivy and Rose of Sharon.
But that’s not all! With the help professional landscape designer Leslie Stutzman-Solitario of River’s Edge Landscaping, the embankment is now a pollinator haven with a wide selection of Virginia native plants. Leslie created a natural corridor for wildlife by planting multiples of each plant together in large groupings. The plantings include oak hydrangea, beauty berry, red cedar, sumac, beebalm, aster, sweetspire and milkweed. The 300-yard bank is now mulched with wood chips donated by Arbor Artist and Treesmith USA. Our garden volunteers have been diligent in watering the new plants as they take root.
It has been a true community effort, and we are very grateful to Leslie, our garden volunteers, River’s Edge landscaping, Julie at Watermark Woods and Kevin at Treesmith USA for donating time, resources and plants to this project.
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Branching Out: Self-Guided Tree Tour Comes to Grounds of Dodona Manor |
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Did you know that there are over 20 varieties of trees on the grounds of Dodona Manor? Learn more about their origins, environments and uses of each type on our NEW self-guided tree tour.
Visit dodonamanor.org to access the tour, as well as our self-guided architectural tour of Dodona Manor.
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Winning the Peace: New Exhibit Coming in July
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“We have heard the comment several times that we won a victory, but we still have not won a peace.”
When the United States emerged from World War II in 1947, many Americans were prepared to disengage from world affairs and return to the traditional policy of isolationism. George Marshall, however, insisted America finish the hard job of securing a lasting peace. As U.S. Army Chief of Staff, he had helped the Allies win the war. As Secretary of State, he would help it win the peace.
Next month, we’re installing a new exhibit in the Haub Room of Dodona Manor. Winning the Peace: George Marshall and the European Recovery Program explores Marshall’s decisive role in guiding the world from a mere cessation of conflict to an enduring and peaceful post-war order. See how he contributed to the passage of the European Recovery Program by mobilizing key players, revising and delivering the pivotal public address, implementing a bipartisan approach to securing Congressional approval and serving as the plan’s most effective public spokesman.
Winning the Peace will feature original images and objects rarely seen by the public. Stay tuned for details and updates on the final installation!
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Fall Ethical Leadership Conference for High School Students Set for September |
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We look forward to hosting our next Ethical Leadership Conference for high school juniors and seniors on September 23 and 24, 2022.
This program was created to inspire and develop leaders among high school juniors and seniors. Five-Star Character gives students the opportunity to shape their approach to leadership and decision-making drawing on the life of one of the most remarkable and influential leaders in American history.
The conference leverages lessons from the life and example of George C. Marshall, whose career as a soldier and statesman serves as a positive and timeless model of effective ethical leadership and “five-star character.” Using examples from Marshall’s long career of service, participants learn and apply these enduring lessons in a modern context.
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Calling All Artists: Last Month to Submit Poster Designs |
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As part of our 75th anniversary celebration, we’re conducting a poster contest to celebrate George C. Marshall’s visionary leadership in spearheading the development of U.S.-led efforts to invest in post-World War II Europe.
We invite talented individuals to contribute to this celebration of the Marshall Plan with their own unique poster designs! Winners will receive cash prizes. Entry and prize details can be found at georgecmarshall.org/poster-contest
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THEME: The Living Legacy of the Marshall Plan
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: July 9, 2022
CONTESTANT DIVISIONS:
- Division A (18 and older)
- Division B (17 and younger)
Prize-winning designs and select honorable mentions will be on public display and will be featured on our website and social media platforms.
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Film Fest: Save the Date!
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On September 17 we’ll be hosting a new event in honor of our year-long 75th anniversary celebrations. We invite the community to join us on the lawn outside Dodona Manor for a showing of The Shoemaker and the Hatter, an animated, pro-Marshall Plan short film created by Italian filmmakers and dubbed in English. The film is fun, colorful and runs a swift 16 minutes. Children and adults will enjoy the delightful presentation. Join us before the outdoor showing for games, food trucks and ice cream or bring a picnic and secure a good seat on the lawn.
Before the outdoor showing, history enthusiasts are invited to join Marshall historian Rachel Yarnell Thompson for an indoor presentation on the movie. Space for this talk will be limited. RSVP will be required.
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The George C. Marshall International Center, Inc. brings to life the timeless values of selfless service and unwavering integrity to develop visionary leaders worldwide.
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The George C. Marshall International Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
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