FROM THE DESK OF ALEX BURDEN

U.S. MISSION TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY CELEBRATES PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S LEGACY

Second Casting of the Corbin Statue to Be Unveiled and Dedicated in Brussels, Belgium

Dear Friends,

In just a few days, the world will mark the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty, the most powerful and successful peacetime alliance in human history.

And in Brussels, Belgium—home to NATO Headquarters—representatives from all 32 NATO nations will honor the American president who made that alliance possible, Harry S. Truman.

For the past year, the Truman Library Institute has been working closely with the U.S. Mission to NATO on plans to honor President Truman's role in the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty—specifically, to install a bronze statue of President Truman at Truman Hall, the permanent residence of the U.S. Ambassador to NATO.

I am thrilled and honored to announce that the new Truman Statue will be unveiled and dedicated Wednesday, April 3, in Brussels. President Truman's grandson and our honorary chair, Clifton Truman Daniel, is leading a small Truman delegation invited to attend the historic gathering comprised of NATO leadership, including Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Many of you will remember the tremendous national coverage we received when the original Truman Statue by Tom Corbin was unveiled and dedicated in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda nearly two years ago. I could not have imagined that the achievement would be followed by an international event centered around a second casting and installation.

Our success is a resounding affirmation of President Truman's global leadership, which has given us a framework that continues to defend democracies and provide a shield against aggression.

Please read on to learn about this exciting initiative, and then watch your inbox for more. On April 4, Clifton Truman Daniel will share personal reflections on his grandfather's global leadership. Following the NATO anniversary, we will share photos, highlights, and international media coverage of the events celebrating Truman's leadership, the alliance, and the next 75 years of international cooperation in defense of freedom.

Stay TRU,

Alex Burden, Executive Director

P.S. Our work advancing the legacy of President Truman is only possible with your support, engagement and enthusiasm. On behalf of the entire team, thank you for standing with us in this mission. It's never been more important.

INTERNATIONAL EVENT | BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

JULIANNE SMITH

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO

ANTONY J. BLINKEN

U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE

JENS STOLTENBERG

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL

ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, the Truman Delegation will attend a 75th-anniversary gathering of NATO foreign ministers, presided over by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ambassador Julianne Smith. The commemorative event, which includes the unveiling of the Truman Statue, will take place at the U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, known as Truman Hall. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is expected to attend the event, as are major U.S. and international news outlets. We are absolutely thrilled that President Truman will be, quite literally, at the center of these NATO75 events.

INSTALLATION SITE | TRUMAN HALL

AS THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE of the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Truman Hall (officially, the U.S. Mission to NATO) has become a center for welcoming America's Allies and partners in the most successful security alliance in the history of the world. Named for President Truman by the 13th U.S. Ambassador to NATO, David Abshire, Truman Hall sits at the peak of a gentle hill, protected on the east by a grove of pines, open on the west as the slope drops away to the parks and lakes of Tervuren. Much of the estate’s beauty can be credited to René Pechère, an outstanding Belgian landscape architect. The Truman Statue will be permanently located in a prominent contemplation point within the gardens, standing as an enduring reminder to visitors of Harry S. Truman's role in the creation of NATO.

MONUMENTAL LEGACY | THE STATUE

THE BRUSSELS MONUMENT IS THE SECOND CASTING of the statue that was installed in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building in 2022. Commissioned by the Truman Library Institute and sculpted by Kansas City artist Tom Corbin, the Truman Statue was first unveiled during a worldwide broadcast from the U.S. Capitol on September 27, 2022. This identical casting—now onsite, ready for its April 3 unveiling—is a legacy gift from the Institute to the U.S. State Department. The 8-foot, 1,000-pound statue will stand atop an India Black Granite pedestal.

TRUMAN TO BRUSSELS | MEDIA + PHOTOS

BEFORE CRATING the bronze statue for its transatlantic flight, sculptor Tom Corbin and Cassie Pikarsky, director of strategic initiatives, offered local news media a sneak peek. Click the video below for the full story.

VIEW HIGHLIGHTS of the finishing touches made in Kansas City, Missouri, and the statue's arrival at the U.S. Mission to NATO, in advance of the April 3 unveiling and dedication.