Each year in early November, VOC honors the more than 100 million killed and 1.5 billion still enslaved by communist regimes around the world. On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, we will mark Victims of Communism Memorial Day with our International Cultural & Food Fair at our museum in Washington, D.C.
In partnership with embassies and ethnic partner organizations, we will showcase ethnic cuisine and drink from the almost 40 countries that fell victim to or are still victims of communist regimes. Guests will have an opportunity to try these cuisine items and will learn from country representatives about each nation’s experience under communism as well as their unique history, culture, and traditions. Guests will also be able to tour the museum.
Join us at the Victims of Communism Museum in Washington, D.C. in November for this important anniversary.
Event partners include:
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria
Embassy of Estonia
Embassy of Georgia
Embassy of Hungary
Embassy of the Republic of Latvia
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania
Embassy of Moldova
Embassy of Romania
Albanian American Partners
Belarusian American Association
Campaign for Uyghurs
Keep Taiwan Free
North Korean refugees
Polish American Congress
United Macedonian Diaspora
Vietnamese American Friends of VOC
Wei Jingshseng Foundation
Keynote:
We are honored to have Francis Gary Powers, Jr.—son of Francis Gary Powers Sr., CIA U-2 pilot who was shot down in the midst of the Cold War while flying in Soviet airspace—offer keynote remarks.
Born June 5, 1965, Gary is the author Enemy Territory, Spy Pilot, and Letters from a Soviet Prison. He is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Cold War Museum located at Vint Hill, VA and was the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Cold War Theme Study which assisted the National Park Service to identify historic Cold War sites for preservation. Gary, as the President and CEO of the Vienna Regional Chamber of Commerce (2000-2005) helped to establish the Tysons Corner Chamber of Commerce during that time period. In 2015, he consulted for a Steven Spielberg thriller, Bridge of Spies, about the 1962 spy exchange between KGB spy Rudolph Abel and CIA U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, Sr. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and U.S. History. Gary lectures internationally, appears regularly on C-SPAN, the History channel, and Discovery channel, and is married with one son.