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Last updated on Wednesday, April 25, 2018
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indianapolis welcomes U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Montgomery to the Indiana War Memorial on Armed Forces Day, Friday, May 18th to provide an inside look into his experiences commanding the U.S. military in 1993 Somalia and the action which inspired the critically-acclaimed film Black Hawk Down.
MOGADISHU, SOMALIA - U.S. Major General Thomas Montgomery, commander of the U.S. forces in Somalia, talks on a radio phone at the airport 25 March 1994 before the last US troops leave Somalia. The U.S. military intervention in Somalia began 09 December 1992 as part of an attempt to end a famine that killed at least 300,000 people. (Photo by Pascal Guyot)
The program is free to the public on an RSVP basis, donations are encouraged. The evening is scheduled from 6 - 9 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres will be provided by the Armed Forces Day Coordinating Council of Indianapolis free of charge and a cash bar will be open for business.
MOGADISHU, SOMALIA - General Thomas Montgomery speaks at a press conference December 6, 1993 in Mogadishu, Somalia. U.S. gunships attacked the compound of warlord Mohammad Aidid in response to attacks on UN personnel. (Photo by Scott Peterson)
Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit www.armedforcesdayindy.org/rsvp to secure your tickets.
Schedule of Events:
Doors Open...................................................................6 p.m.
LTG Montgomery Presentation Begins (Auditorium)...............6:30 p.m.
Intermission...................................................................7:15 p.m.
Maude Award Presentation Resumes.................................8 p.m.
Conclusion.....................................................................9 p.m.
Indiana War Memorial Plaza - The five-city-block plaza on which it resides in downtown Indianapolis was conceived in 1919 as the location for the National Headquarters of The American Legion and a memorial to the state's and nation's veterans.
Montgomery's famed military career was nothing short of heroic, earning both the Silver and Bronze Star Medals in combat. At the time of his retirement, he served as the U.S. military representative to NATO's highest military body, the Military Committee. (See his bio attached) The historic Indiana War Memorial was originally built to honor veterans of World War I. The five-city-block plaza on which it resides in downtown Indianapolis was conceived in 1919 as the location for the National Headquarters of The American Legion and a memorial to the state's and nation's veterans. Today, the Indiana War Memorial's Museum conveys the contributions and sacrifices of Hoosier service men and women from the Revolutionary War through recent peacekeeping operations and conflicts.
Established in 1975, the Armed Forces Day Coordinating Council of Indianapolis provides a chance for the community to honor those who currently serve. Our mission is to promote public awareness and involvement in recognizing the valor, sacrifice and honorable service to community, state and nation by today's active duty, reserve and National Guard military service members annually on Armed Forces Day.
If you have any questions contact the Armed Forces Day Council of Indianapolis Media Director John Crosby at 317-416-5956 or by email at communications@indianalegion.org
"There is a dilemma of sorts for the military in that we know that our primary mission will always be defense and to then fight and win the nation's wars and we don't want the military to become a peacekeeping military; it would be a big mistake to do that." says LTG Thomas Montgomery.
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