Press Releases

British Ambassador Lauds Luetkemeyer's Effort on America's National Churchill Museum

Washington, DC, July 27, 2009
U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) met with British Ambassador to the United States Sir Nigel Sheinwald today at the British Embassy and discussed the successful resolution that Luetkemeyer sponsored through the U.S. House of Representatives, which recognizes the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., as America's National Churchill Museum.
U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9)  met with British Ambassador to the United States Sir Nigel Sheinwald today at the British Embassy and discussed the successful resolution that Luetkemeyer sponsored through the U.S. House of Representatives, which recognizes the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., as America’s National Churchill Museum.  
“I congratulate the Churchill Museum in Fulton on its designation by the House of Representatives as America’s National Churchill Museum. And I would like to thank Congressman Luetkemeyer for authoring the resolution that led to the museum’s designation,” Sir Nigel Sheinwald said.
Westminster College is the site of Churchill’s famous speech in 1946, where he uttered the phrase “an iron curtain has descended,” in recognizing the threats of the emerging Cold War.  The museum is located in the undercroft of a 17th-Century Christopher Wren church, which was brought stone by stone from London and reconstructed on the Westminster campus in 1969 to commemorate Churchill’s historic visit. The Churchill Memorial and Library in Fulton underwent major renovations in 2005 and reopened to the public in 2006 in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Churchill’s famous 1946 speech.
“It was truly an honor to meet with Sir Nigel Sheinwald today and discuss one of history’s greatest statesmen and our efforts in Missouri to honor his commitment to freedom and democracy,” Luetkemeyer said. “Passage of this resolution redefines how most of us think about the museum. It has long been seen as a Missouri treasure that marks a significant event in world history and embodies the character of Winston Churchill. We now celebrate its new designation as America’s National Churchill Museum.”  
The state-of-the-art interactive museum showcases new interactive exhibits that bring Churchill and history to life. Visitors to the museum walk away with a greater appreciation of the historical and political significance of the life and legacy of Churchill and a sense of Westminster’s educational mission to graduate the world’s future “leaders of character.” The Winston Churchill Memorial and Library is the only museum in North America totally devoted to Churchill’s life and work.
“I am grateful that Sir Nigel Sheinwald would take time from his busy schedule to recognize the importance of America’s National Churchill Museum and I want to thank Congressman Luetkemeyer for all his hard work to help us obtain this important designation,” says Dr. Rob Havers, Executive Director of America’s National Churchill Museum.  “We believe our new, state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits on the life and times of Churchill hold inspiration and relevant lessons for today’s generation and those to come.  We hope the spotlight that these two leaders are shining on the Museum today prompts visitors from both of our countries to come here to learn from the life and legacy of this great statesman.”
 
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