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Maj. Gen. James Livingston |
NEW ORLEANS — The philanthropic arm of
General Electric announced Tuesday that it is giving a combined
$750,000 to the National World War II Museum and the Congressional Medal
of Honor Foundation.
The Warehouse District museum will receive
$500,000 of the grant from the GE Foundation. The money will support the
“What Would You Do?” experience, an exhibit that presents visitors with
decisions people faced during World War II.
GE has previously given $100,000 to the museum.
The
remainder of the new grant — $250,000 — will go to the Congressional
Medal of Honor Foundation to support the Character Development
Curriculum in the state’s schools. That program uses the stories of
living Medal of Honor recipients to inspire students and teach skills
associated with the Common Core State Standards, a set of expectations
for what students should master between kindergarten and senior year of
high school.
GE has previously given $175,000 to the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation’s Character Development Program.
Jeff
Immelt, chairman and CEO of GE, made the announcement of the newest
grants at the museum’s new U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center as
shareholders descend upon the city for their annual meeting. It was also
the same day his company dedicated its Capital Technology Center in the
Central Business District. That office has 75 employees but will expand
to 300 during the next two years.
Students from Sci Academy in
eastern New Orleans were in attendance for the announcement and were
able to ask questions of Medal of Honor recipient Maj. Gen. James
Livingston, a former chairman of the board of the museum.
The
retired Marine was wounded while leading a company in Vietnam. Injured
by two grenade blasts and gunfire, he ordered his men to leave him
behind while he tried to continue to fight from a prone position. His
men disobeyed him and dragged him to safety.
Livingston used his time with the students to urge them to do their best in school and life.
“The Marine Corps didn’t promise me a rose garden,” he said. “That’s what the Marine Corps taught me — to push myself.”
Read more: GE grants $750,000 to WWII museum, Medal of Honor foundation
Visitor Center and Museum wwii artifacts…..Beautiful facility. Loved the Cyclorama painting. The museum itself is very interactive and gives a comprehensive look at the Battle of Gettysburg within the larger context of the War between the States….