MILITARY HISTORY COMES TO LIFE AT WEEKLONG CONGRESS
More than 225 of the world's top government and academic scholars of military history will be in Norfolk Aug. 11-16 for the 28th annual Congress of the International Commission of Military History.
Old Dominion University is a sponsor of the weeklong colloquium. This marks the first time in 20 years that the congress will be held in the United States. Athens, Greece, was the host site last year. Romania and China will host the next two years.
Participants hail from some 35 nations, and all proceedings will be presented in four languages � English, French, German and Spanish.
In addition to scholarly presentations on the theme "Coming to the Americas: The Eurasian Military Impact on the Development of the Western Hemisphere," participants will immerse themselves in the vast military history of the Hampton Roads region. Visits are planned to the MacArthur Memorial and Library, Norfolk Naval Base, Fort Monroe, Mariners' Museum, Battleship Wisconsin and Nauticus, Jamestown, Yorktown and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum.
Founded by European scholars after World War II, the International Commission of Military History is dedicated to fostering cooperation and scholarship among scholars and senior military officers who head the historical offices of the defense establishments of participating nations. At this congress they will investigate the reciprocal influence of European and Asian military ideas, institutions, technologies and practices upon the discovery, settlement, political-economic development and structure of international relations of the nations of the Western Hemisphere.
The week's schedule is as follows:
Sunday, Aug. 11 � Opening reception with welcoming remarks from International Commission President Luc De Vos, U.S. Commission President Allan Millett and Old Dominion President Roseann Runte; 6-9 p.m., Nauticus.
Monday, Aug. 12 � Opening session and scholarly sessions, Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel.
Tuesday, Aug. 13 � Scholarly sessions; tour of the MacArthur Memorial Museum and Library.
Wednesday, Aug. 14 � Visits to Jamestown Island, Yorktown Battlefield, Mariners' Museum and Fort Monroe.
Thursday, Aug. 15 � Scholarly sessions; visit to Norfolk Naval Base and ship tour.
Friday, Aug. 16 � Scholarly sessions; closing reception, 6 p.m., Old Dominion University, Webb Center.