Remembering D-Day: Leesburg at War

Sunday, June 2 at 2 P.M. at Dodona

We look forward to co-hosting a special event with the Town of Leesburg and the Thomas Balch Library honoring the 80th anniversary of D-Day (June 6, 1944). The event, which will be held at Dodona Manor (312 E. Market Street in Leesburg) on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 2 p.m., will feature a panel of World War II history experts discussing Leesburg’s connections to the “Longest Day” and how the war affected our community.

The gathering will also feature an interactive mapping of Leesburg during World War II, a dedication of a model USS Marshall submarine by the Capitol Chapter, Naval Submarine League, and World War II-era jeeps and re-enactors. Attendees who are interested in free tours of historic Dodona Manor are encouraged to arrive between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Free parking is available in the Loudoun County Parking Garage (Entrance on Loudoun Street SE) and Pennington Lot. Please do not park along Edwards Ferry Road or in the driveway at Dodona Manor. Limited accessible parking is available in the lot adjacent to the house at 312 East Market Street.

**In the event of inclement weather, we will move to the meeting room at Thomas Balch Library, 208 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176.

No RSVP Required – we look forward to seeing you on June 2nd!

June 19: Marshall and the Creation of NCIS

Off Duty with Greg Scovel, Jr. of NCIS

Join us Wednesday, June 19 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. ET for an in-person discussion of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) with Greg Scovel Jr.

Scovel – who serves as Deputy Director of Operations (Acting) of NCIS – will provide an overview of the organization’s mission, its focus areas and how its work relates to some of General Marshall’s views on leadership and international affairs.

Off Duty is an outdoor speaker series hosted by the George C. Marshall International 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.

June 20: Foreign Policy Forum with Rachel Thompson

Marshall and the 1948 Recognition of Israel

Join us Thursday, June 20 from Noon – 1 p.m. ET for a Zoom discussion with Marshall historian Rachel Thompson on: “Marshall and the 1948 Recognition Of Israel: The Case for Intermediate Steps.”

Marshall historian Rachel Yarnell Thompson, a former high school American history teacher and curriculum specialist, has for 22 years been a student of George C. Marshall. Her extensive knowledge of Marshall’s life in Leesburg has given Thompson a unique understanding of a remarkable leader whose personality was sometimes hidden by his outwardly austere and inscrutable personality. In 2014, the Center published her full-length biography of this famous general titled: Marshall--A Statesman Shaped in the Crucible of War, which has been highly praised.

Camp Marshall: June 24-26

Summer Leadership Experience for High School Students

There are a few spots remaining for this free, 3-day event for emerging high school leaders!

For the first time ever, the Marshall Center will host a three-day camp for high school students as part of our Ethical Leadership Program. Camp Marshall will take place June 24-26 on the grounds of Dodona Manor in Leesburg.

Camp Marshall will mix history, team building, leadership exercises and fun to inspire leaders of the future. We encourage members to share this opportunity with their networks.

Bringing History to Life

Dodona Docents Teach Middle School Students About Marshall

This spring, dedicated docents from the Marshall Center partnered with three area middle schools (Belmont Ridge, Stone Hill and Blue Ridge) to educate students about General Marshall’s life and World War II. Check out this coverage from Loudoun Now on their recent visit to Blue Ridge Middle School!

“I truly value our partnership with the Marshall Foundation at Blue Ridge. The docents are so excited to share their knowledge of George C. Marshall and his contributions during World War II and the Marshall plan. We appreciate their generosity and kindness with our students,” explained teacher Shauna Cassidy.

“There was a lot of information I learned about George C. Marshall and the Marshall Plan. Marshall was a selfless leader of our nation,” seventh grade student Alex Kula added.