Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, Former Senator Bob Dole, ABC News Correspondent Sam Donaldson, Senator Chuck Hagel, Vice Admiral Patricia A. Tracey, Congressman Charles B. Rangel and Humorist Christopher Buckley participated in an event at the Library of Congress on May 1st, at 7 p.m. which launched an historic book giveaway of the first Armed Services Edition (ASE) in 55 years–-a condensed paper bound edition of Andrew Carroll’s New York times bestseller, War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars (Scribner, 2001).

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is underwriting the publication of more than 2,500,000 Armed Services Editions of War Letters, which will be distributed free of charge to veterans, active military personnel and friends of the VFW.

Reading excerpts from War Letters and from other war-related material including their own letters, the Library’s distinguished guests filled the evening with personal and often moving testimony from the experience of war. This program was sponsored by the Center for the Book.