An Interview with Ossie Davis

Host of the 2003 National Memorial Day Concert

Ossie Davis, the distinguished actor, director, producer and World War II veteran, will host the National Memorial Day Concert. This year marks his 10th time as host. The multi-talented star has had an extraordinary life and career that has taken him from the stage, television and movies to the forefront of the civil rights movement. In the following interview, he shares his thoughts on the meaning of Memorial Day and his involvement with PBS.

Q: This is your tenth time hosting the concert. Why has this event become such an important, ongoing commitment for you?

Ossie Davis: I believe the concert is important for us as Americans. We need a national ritual that binds us together since we come from such diverse backgrounds. The concert is a tribute to those who gave their lives, as well as a national occasion that emphasizes these elements. The event is also important to me because of the 5,000 black folks who were involved in the Revolutionary War, before the country was even founded. We haven't paid much attention to their sacrifices or given them their due credit. So, I am there representing their contributions to the country.

Q: More than a year has passed since the trauma and devastation of September 11. How will the National Memorial Day Concert honor those who lost their lives and the families they left behind?

OD: Some of the people who were killed on September 11 deliberately made a decision that carried them into the melee. In particular, I'm thinking of the policemen and firefighters who committed acts of conspicuous bravery. They deserve the same kind of tribute as those who serve in the armed forces. When the call came, they acted instinctively for the good of the country and performed an act of courage far beyond the call of duty.

I think the response of these men and women, particularly the ones I've mentioned, is akin to the sacrifices for which we traditionally honor our soldiers for on Memorial Day. So, those who had family members or friends who were directly affected by, or made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, will see and feel the connection.

Q: What do you believe to be the most exceptional aspect of the National Memorial Day Concert?

OD: I hope that on Memorial Day, with the broadcast of the concert, we will help the country set aside its preoccupation with commercial activities and reflect for a moment on what this country is. And, what it is depends directly on the fact that there were people who through the years were willing to make the supreme sacrifice. We, the World War II generation, answered our country's call. We behaved mostly with bravery, gallantry and courage and brought home the victory that preserved our country and freedom in the world. So, Memorial Day is a moment for us all to be proud of. For me, hosting the concert is a spiritual exercise. When all the flags have been lowered, all the bands have passed by and the parade is over, Taps has been sounded and the lights put out, somebody has to look all of those people who died in the eye and say 'I'm sorry.' And, that is my responsibility.

Q: What would you say to encourage someone to tune in and watch who's never seen the concert before?

OD: The value of the concert lies in the reminder of what wars are and what they cost in human terms. I believe this reinforces a deep feeling of connectedness for Americans on a higher level than normal. We appreciate our heritage a little bit more when we start to consider what it means and what people have paid for it.

So, I think there's a value in providing the general public, and in particular school children, with a venue that tells us what the country is, why it's special and why it was worth dying for. I also hope the children will take the country to heart and also agree that it's worth dying for. Families in our society need every occasion they can get to embrace a central point on which we can all agree. I think this is one of those moments when the American family has something to be excited about.

Q: Do you believe we can draw on the experience of the "greatest generation" as we move forward in the healing process following September 11?

OD: I believe that the World War II generation was exceptional in that it was able to come together from many disparate points and mount a campaign that ultimately led us to victory. We had a clear-cut challenge posed by a known villain. We knew immediately who the 'good guys' were and who the 'bad guys' were, making it a classic war in that particular sense.

We can look similarly at what happened on September 11. And, we can say that when Americans are deeply concerned, they become deeply committed and when that happens great things are possible. I would hope that when we think about September 11, we will always cherish our nation's immediate and magnificent response in that moment when we were called to show our patriotism, spirituality and national strength.