NEW YORK – Barbara Walters will serve as emcee for a major upcoming event that will mark the one-year anniversary of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) repeal and honor Admiral Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The event, Celebrating Our Heroes, is scheduled to take place Tuesday, Sept. 18 aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum in New York City.
Hosted by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, OutServe and the Interbank Roundtable Committee the event will mark the first anniversary of the repeal of DADT. The event will be a tribute to all American servicemembers and will honor Admiral Mike Mullen, who played a significant leadership role in repeal, which took place Sept. 20, 2011.
“The addition of Barbara Walters as our emcee for the evening makes an already exciting lineup even more spectacular. It’s only fitting that America’s most influential and accomplished journalist – who has made history herself a time or two – would join us for this historic and emotional event,” said Army Veteran and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis.
Walters has arguably interviewed more political figures and celebrities than any other journalist in history. She is so well known that her name and a brief biography is listed in the American Heritage Dictionary. She has interviewed every American president and first lady since Richard Nixon. She made journalism history by arranging the first joint interview with Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin in November 1977.
“Having someone of Barbara Walters’ depth of world experience and caliber is a perfect match for this tribute to Admiral Mullen’s courage in helping our nation live out its promise of equality for all,” said Elizabeth Birch, former president of the Human Rights Campaign and a key organizer of the event.
The Sept. 18 celebration in New York City will be the first in a series events hosted by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and OutServe across the country during the week to commemorate the first year of open service by America’s gay and lesbian service members.
