In a program Tuesday at the National World War II Museum, the philanthropic arm of General Electric announced $750,000 in donations to the museum and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. The event kicked off two days of GE events in New Orleans, which also include a dedication ceremony for the company's new technology office in the Central Business District later on Tuesday and the company's annual shareholders meeting at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Wednesday, which is taking place in conjunction with the company's increased presence in the city.
Jeffrey Immelt, the chief executive officer of GE, which stands in sixth place on the Fortune 500 list of the largest companies with almost $148 billion in revenue in 2011 and more than $14 billion in profits, announced the donations at the museum.
The GE Foundation is giving $500,000 to support the museum's "What Would You Do?" interactive display, which places visitors in the position to make the same kinds of decisions that faced people during World War II. The company previously donated $100,000 to the museum.
The remaining $250,000 donation for the Congressional Medal of Honor group supports a "Character Development Curriculum" for schools in Louisiana, exposing students to stories from Medal of Honor recipients, discussing the values the military veterans demonstrated and incorporating reading skills that align with the state's effort to introduce a national curriculum standard, called the Common Core. GE has previously contributed $175,000 to the program.
Students from Sci Academy in New Orleans attended the event in the museum's new U.S. Freedom Pavilion: Boeing Center, where they heard Immelt interview Medal of Honor recipient Maj. Gen. James Livingston, who was injured while commanding a U.S Marine Corps unit in Vietnam and ordered his men to leave him behind, an order they disobeyed. Livingston later served as chairman of the museum's board.
Livingston circulated the room answering questions from students, including what it was like serving with others.
"When you go into combat and get into a situation like that," he said, "you become a real brotherhood."
A student asked how he balanced his three-decade military career with family. He noted his wife tolerated 27 moves.
"She has basically always been supportive," he said. Referring to his wife and daughters, he said, "Without their cooperation and love and support and just kindness, I never would have been as successful as I was."
And a student asked about the meaning of his Medal of Honor."It represents the spirit and sacrifice of all of those who served," Livingston said, dedicating it to fellow soldiers injured or killed. "And I hope I wear it honorably for them."