General Charles de Gaulle and General Eisenhower both belong to the common national heritage of their respective countries. The two met for the first time in June 1943 in Algiers, and De Gaulle presented Eisenhower with the Cross of Companion of Liberation in June 1945. Both were heads of state during the Cold War. Their work is a source of reflection and inspiration for today’s world. The Charles de Gaulle Foundation and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, in partnership with the Eisenhower Foundation, strive to promote and honor the legacies of these great leaders. Together these institutions collaborated with the Musée de l’Armée (French Army Museum), to create this exhibition, which will contribute to strengthening the bonds between France and the United States. We are grateful to The First Alliance Foundation and the David Woods Kemper Memorial Foundation, presenting sponsors, for bringing this exceptional exhibit to Abilene, Kansas.

Members of VFW posts from across the state of Kansas will stand vigil overnight at the burial site of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The public is encouraged to stop by and pay their respects at the Place of Meditation on the campus of the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas.

The Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony commemorating President Dwight Eisenhower's birthday (on October 14) is led by the 1st Infantry Division from Ft. Riley, Kansas, on behalf of the President of the United States. A procession will include a number of dignitaries. Visitors are encouraged to line the sidewalk from the Eisenhower Presidential Library building to the Place of Meditation for placement of the wreath at Eisenhower's final resting place.

The annual American Legion Pilgrimage will be held at the center of the Eisenhower Presidential Library campus in front of General Eisenhower's statue. Representatives from every Kansas American Legion post and their Auxiliary organizations will gather to pay their respects to General and President Eisenhower. This ceremony is free and open to the public.

Join us on Saturday, October 12, 2019, as we dedicate the all-new exhibits at the Eisenhower Presidential Museum in Abilene, Kansas. The renovation of the entire museum exhibit space was the result of a successful five-year $12,250,000 capital campaign conducted by the Eisenhower Foundation. Donors from all 50 states contributed to this grassroots effort. The dedication ceremony is part of the weekend activities in honor of Dwight Eisenhower's birthday. Dwight and Mamie's granddaughter, Mary Jean Eisenhower, will deliver the keynote address. Following the ribbon-cutting, the museum will open to the public with free admission for the day.

Base ball history comes alive with help from the Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club. Rescheduled after an August rain-out, the Wichita Bullstockings challenge the Abilene Iron Cutters in this annual game played next to the Eisenhower Boyhood Home, a fitting location as young Ike loved baseball. Donning uniforms from the 1860s, the game is played using base ball rules from the Victorian era. The sport name was two words then, and the rules of that era were quite different. Spectators will notice no gloves are used, outfielders can catch the ball on one bounce for an out and base stealing and sliding are prohibited. Crowd participation is encouraged and often impacts the rulings on the field. Bring your lawn chairs and watch the fun!

The Eisenhower Legacy Gala is an annual event hosted by the Eisenhower Foundation. Held at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas, this special evening honors the legacy and continued relevance of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Due to space limitations, this event is by invitation only and tickets must be purchased in advance. This year's gala celebrates the rededication of the Eisenhower Presidential Museum and continues the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Our special guest speaker is World War II veteran Jim Sharp of Manhattan, Kansas, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge with the 1st Infantry Division, earning numerous battlefield decorations. In the fall of 1945 Sharp was selected as a Sergeant of the Guard at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany, where top Nazi leaders during World War II were put on trial for war crimes. Sharp has written two books, “Sgt. of the Guard at Nuremberg” and “Diary of a Combat Infantryman.”