Photo Flash: Arena Stage Hosts Military Thanksgiving 2017

Every year hundreds of D.C.-area military families must spend the Thanksgiving holiday away from loved ones. In gratitude for their service, Arena Stage invited wounded warriors, service men and women and their families to a complimentary dinner and performance of the musical comedy The Pajama Game at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW) on Friday, November 24. Scroll down for photos!

The evening included remarks from Retired Army General Carter F. Ham, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of the United States Army. Since the first Military Thanksgiving in 2011, Arena Stage has served more than 1,000 military members and their families with the annual event.

The evening began with a cocktail reception featuring a performance by military musicians and the presentation of the colors. A seated, three-course dinner was prepared and served by Ridgewells Catering, and guests enjoyed a performance of The Pajama Game.

Arena Stage works primarily through the USO-Metro to distribute the tickets irrespective of rank. Additional tickets are distributed through the Washington, D.C.-Virginia Medical Center Caregiver Support Program and the Southeast Veterans Service Center.

Photo Credit: Cameron Whitman

Retired Army General Carter F. Ham, Arena Stage Board Chair Judith N. Batty, Arena Stage Executive Director Edgar Dobie and Christi Ham

The presentation of the colors at the seventh annual Military Thanksgiving at Arena Stage

The presentation of the colors at the seventh annual Military Thanksgiving at Arena Stage

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

Arena Stage Executive Director Edgar Dobie

Lockheed Martin’s Lawrence Duncan III

Retired Army General Carter F. Ham

Retired Army General Carter F. Ham