Tester salutes World War II veterans at national memorial

Senator invited to pay tribute as HBO prepares to launch acclaimed war miniseries

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester today paid tribute to hundreds of World War II veterans at a large ceremony on the National Mall.

The tribute—coordinated by HBO and the nonprofit organization Honor Flight—brought together hundreds of World War II veterans from across the country to visit the National World War II Memorial for the first time.

Tester, a nationally recognized leader on veterans issues and a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee,  was invited to help honor the former troops in advance of HBO’s new miniseries: The Pacific. 

“It’s for good reason that we call the heroes I met today the ‘Greatest Generation’,” Tester said.  “It was an honor to be at the memorial and pay tribute to the men and women who fought so hard to keep our country free.”

Tester joined actor Tom Hanks, producer Steven Spielberg, former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole (N.C.), and hundreds of veterans and troops at today’s event.

Based on true stories, The Pacific is based in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, and is a follow-up to HBO’s critically acclaimed Band of Brothers.