PRESS RELEASE from the Presidential
Inaugural Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
January 16,
2009
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S
BALL TO AIR ON PENTAGON CHANNEL, AVAILABLE ON MILITARY BASES AROUND THE
WORLD
JON BON JOVI TO
PERFORM
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced today
that the Commander-in-Chief's ball, honoring the country's active duty
and reserve military, will be broadcast to American troops around the
world on the Pentagon Channel, which is available via cable on 368
military bases and on commercial cable and satellite services
throughout the United States. Overseas, the Pentagon Channel is
distributed via cable and direct-to-home satellite to nearly one
million troops via the American Forces Radio and Television Service.
Jon Bon Jovi will headline the talent lineup for the ball, which will
be held on Tuesday, January 20th, at the National Building
Museum. George Lopez will emcee the event, which also feature
performances and appearances by Jordin Sparks, Miss America 2009
Kirsten Haglund, and Right On. The event is also co-hosted by the
Senior Enlisted Advisors of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and
Coast Guard.
"This opportunity to honor our troops should not be limited to those
who are able to be in the room with us for the evening," said PIC
Executive Director Emmett S. Beliveau. "We want all our troops,
around the world, to share in this special evening with the newly
sworn-in President and Vice President and the excellent talent we have
for the evening. Our troops deserve our thanks and our gratitude
and this is one way we hope to express our thanks to those here and
abroad."
"While a relatively small number of service members will be able to
attend the Commander-in-Chief's Ball in person, they will represent
more than 2 million men and women in uniform," said Col. Hiram Bell,
director of public affairs for the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee.
"Most of those service members will be able to watch the celebration on
the Pentagon Channel, or later on Armed Forces Network, and we want
them all to feel part of this historic event."
The Pentagon Channel will break into regular programming with live
coverage of the Commander-in-Chief's Ball, including remarks by
Department of Defense leadership and both the Vice President and the
President. Coverage begins at approximately 8 PM Eastern time and
continues throughout the evening.
The event will be produced by The iDream Company, led by entertainment
executives Suzanne de Passe, Suzanne Costen, and Madison Jones, and
written by Ruth Robinson. The iDream company has been recognized
with Emmy Awards, Golden Globe and Peabody Awards.
Tickets are being provided free of charge to all invited guests, which
includes active duty and reserve military, wounded warriors (Purple
Heart recipients), families of fallen heroes, and spouses of deployed
military. This event is not open to the general public.
###