75th Anniversary of Marshall Plan Signing

April 3, 1948: President Truman Signs the Economic Recovery Act of 1948

Seventy-five years ago today, President Truman made the Marshall Plan a reality by signing the Economic Recovery Act of 1948. The legislation, which became known as the Marshall Plan, was proposed by Secretary of State General George C. Marshall in 1947.

The economic assistance provided by the United States to a continent devastated by war served as the foundation of restoring the economic infrastructure and democratic institutions of postwar Europe.

As Marshall said in his 1947 Harvard speech, the effort was “directed not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos.”

His namesake recovery plan would change the face of the world and earn him the Nobel Peace Prize. Seventy-five years after its enactment, the Marshall Plan’s legacy endures – it laid the groundwork for the modern European Union, and it is considered by many to be the most successful foreign aid program of the 20th century.

We are proud to serve as stewards of General Marshall’s home and the values Marshall and the European Recover Act of 1948 represent: Selfless Service, Unwavering Integrity and Visionary Leadership.

May 5-6 Ethical Leadership Conference for High School Juniors and Seniors

Future Leaders Apply Today for our Spring Session

April 14: George C. Marshall Award Gala 2023

Dr. Robert Gates to Receive George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership

The 2023 George C. Marshall Award Gala is right around the corner – next Friday, April 14 in Arlington, VA!

At the Gala, we will present the George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership to its newest recipient, Dr. Robert Gates. Dr. Gates served as the 22nd Secretary of Defense (2006-2011). Throughout his distinguished career, he served eight U.S. presidents from both parties.

Attendees will enjoy dinner, a captivating keynote, the presentation of the annual George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership, a message from Dr. Gates and entertainment, all while networking and supporting the Marshall Center, particularly our ethical leadership program for high school students.

Proceeds from the annual Award Gala support our mission of bringing to life the timeless values of selfless service and unwavering integrity to develop visionary leaders worldwide.

It's not too late to join the fun – a limited number of tickets and sponsorships are still available!

Give Choose Success – Thank You to our Donors!

Marshall Center Exceeds $10,000 Donation Goal on Community’s Biggest Day of Giving

We extend our profound gratitude to all the generous donors who helped us raise $12,120 on March 28 – and a special thank you to You’ve Got Maids for matching our first $2,000 of donations! In total, the Give Choose initiative ­– organized by the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties – raised $786,619 for local nonprofits!

By choosing to support us, you are helping the George C. Marshall International Center create and host free world-class educational leadership classes for students. Our Five-Star Character program shares General Marshall’s values and legacy of strong, principled leadership with future leaders – needed now more than ever!

Docents & Volunteers Enjoy Field Trip Rich in Marshall History

Team Dodona Visits VMI & George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington, VA

Field trip! Dodona Manor’s Docent and Volunteer team recently paid a visit to a special destination: the George C. Marshall Foundation Library and Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA.

Library Director Melissa Davis shared her remarkable in-depth knowledge of treasured items from the Foundation’s collection, including the last original corps-level D-day map, a gold typewriter gifted to General Marshall by the Foreign Press Association and the meeting table from his Pentagon office.

The library’s three-story, climate-controlled cold storage unit houses General Marshall’s Pentagon papers, the personal papers of the Marshall family and even Katherine Marshall’s scrapbooks. Visits to the library can be made by appointment, and research requests are welcome.

The docents and volunteers then headed down the street to the VMI Museum. Col. Keith Gibson shared a special presentation on General Marshall and his brother Stuart, both VMI graduates. In the museum, the original door to General Marshall’s room is on display – and cadets continue to live in the very quarters he occupied more than a century ago.



Thank you to our friends in Lexington for the kindness and hospitality!

Interested in becoming a docent? Contact us at info@georgecmarshall.org

April 5: Book Club

“Our Man In Tokyo: An American Ambassador and the Countdown to Pearl Harbor.”

Join us Wednesday, April 5 from Noon to 1 p.m. ET, for a Zoom discussion of “Our Man In Tokyo: An American Ambassador and the Countdown to Pearl Harbor,” featuring an appearance by author Steve Kemper.

“A riveting, behind-the-scenes account of the personalities and contending forces in Tokyo during the volatile decade that led to World War II, as seen through the eyes of the American ambassador who attempted to stop the slide to war.”

April 26: Off Duty Event with Nicholas Reynolds

Historian and Author Will Discuss Marshall’s Leadership Role in the Rise of U.S. Intelligence in WW2

Our "Off Duty” speaker series returns! Join us Wednesday, April 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. ET, for a discussion of General Marshall’s leadership role in the revolution in American intelligence brought about by World War II. The event will be held at Dodona Manor. Parking is available at the Shops at Dodona Manor (312 East Market St).

World War II brought about a transformation in American intelligence. For the first time in U.S. history, decision-makers in Washington knew, in near real time, what the enemy was thinking. But great intelligence is useless without great customers — leaders who will promote the activity and use the information wisely. George C. Marshall was one of those leaders. The author of “Need to Know, World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence,” Nicholas Reynolds will explore this little-known side of Marshall’s professional life.

Reynolds has worked in the field of modern history off and on for 40 years, with some unusual detours. After earning his PhD from Oxford University in hand, he joined the Marine Corps in the 1970s, serving as an infantry officer and then as an official historian. As a colonel in the reserves, he was Officer in Charge of Field History. For many years, he worked at CIA, most recently as the historian for the CIA Museum. Leveraging his experience, he has taught at the Naval War College, Johns Hopkins University and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Off Duty is an outdoor speaker series hosted by the Marshall Center. Each event features a speaker discussing a topic that touches on history adjacent to George C. Marshall and the times in which he lived. The events run around 90 minutes, with light refreshments and opportunities for networking before and after the discussion.

Dodona Daffodils!

Did you know that our friends at the Leesburg Garden Club have been longtime supporters of Dodona Manor?

Many of the meticulously tended garden beds on our grounds are named after garden club members. In fact, most of the daffodil bulbs that are just now peeking out their petals were donated to Dodona Manor by members of the club.

Pay us a visit and enjoy the early spring blossoms!