UPI photojournalist among four Vietnam War photographers to be honored
The Newseum will honor four news photographers killed on assignment and inter remains found at the site of a 1971 helicopter crash in Laos. The crash killed the four photographers, along with seven others aboard the aircraft, during the Vietnam War.
WHO:
Peter Prichard, president, Newseum
Richard Pyle, The Associated Press, co-author of "Lost Over Laos"
Horst Faas, co-author of "Lost Over Laos"
Tom Curley, chief executive officer, The Associated Press
Joe Urschel, executive director, Newseum
WHEN: 11 a.m., Thursday, April 3, 2008
WHERE:
Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
BACKGROUND: The Newseum, scheduled to open Friday, April 11, is honoring four news photographers -- Larry Burrows, Life; Henri Huet, The Associated Press; Kent Potter, United Press International; Keisaburo Shimamoto, Newsweek -- who were killed in 1971 in a helicopter crash in Laos while covering the Vietnam War for their news organizations. In its Journalists Memorial gallery, the museum is interring remains found at the site of the helicopter crash that killed the four photojournalists and seven others from the Republic of Vietnam's army and air force. The story of the crash and discovery of the site was the subject of a book, "Lost Over Laos," written by Richard Pyle and Hosrt Faas, two AP correspondents who covered the war. The Journalists Memorial honors those who died or were killed
while reporting the news. It bears the names of reporters, photographers, broadcasters and executives who died covering war, civil violence or natural disasters, or who were killed because of their work. In all, the Journalists Memorial displays the names of 1,843 journalists, dating back to 1837.
On Friday, April 4, the day following the interment ceremony, the Newseum will formally dedicate the Journalists Memorial.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Both the April 3 interment ceremony and the April 4 Journalists Memorial dedication ceremony are open to covering media.
Those wishing to cover either ceremony are asked to contact the Newseum in advance. Newseum media contacts for these events are Tina Tate, director/media relations (ttate@newseum.org, 202/292-6313) and Mike Fetters, director/marketing and communications (mfetters@newseum.org, 202/292-6320).
