Alfonso Ribeiro Pays Tribute to the Greatest Generation
Clip: Season 2024 | 2m 28sVideo has Closed Captions
Alfonso Ribeiro pays tribute to members of the Greatest Generation on the 2024 "A Capitol Fourth."
Alfonso Ribeiro pays tribute to two members of the Greatest Generation, WWII veteran Jim Behrend and original Rosie the Riveter Mae Krier. We honor the service of all who contributed to secure victory on the front lines and the home front during World War II.
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A Capitol Fourth is sponsored by The Boeing Company and made possible by the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army and public television stations nationwide. All travel is provided by American Airlines.
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Alfonso Ribeiro Pays Tribute to the Greatest Generation
Clip: Season 2024 | 2m 28sVideo has Closed Captions
Alfonso Ribeiro pays tribute to two members of the Greatest Generation, WWII veteran Jim Behrend and original Rosie the Riveter Mae Krier. We honor the service of all who contributed to secure victory on the front lines and the home front during World War II.
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Check Out the 2024 Performers & Features
Learn more about the 44th annual A Capitol Fourth!2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the year that was truly the turning point in our road to victory in the Second World War.
Those who fought in those epic battles epitomized the spirit of what is so rightly called America's Greatest Generation.
With us this evening is U.S. Navy D-Day veteran Jim Behrend, representing -- [ Cheers and applause ] Yeah.
Representing all those who served during the Second World War in Europe and the Pacific, Mr. Behrend, thank you so much for joining us.
-Thank you, Alfonso.
And I want to wish a happy anniversary day to the people of America.
-Thank you.
-Thank you.
-Thank you so much, Jim.
Appreciate you.
And while the war was raging overseas, there were so many patriotic Americans serving here at home, doing the vital work that supported our military effort.
This iconic image is Rosie the Riveter, who represented the millions of women working in factories and shipyards, producing munitions and needed supplies.
My wife's grandmother, Louise Unkrich, was one of those Rosie to Riveters.
May she rest in peace.
[ Cheers and applause ] Joining us tonight and representing all the women who served our nation during those years is one of the original Rosie the Riveters, a woman who built B-17s and B-29s Mae Krier.
[ Cheers and applause ] Aww.
Yes.
Now, Mae, you recently received quite an honor, the Congressional Gold Medal.
-That was outstanding.
It was such an honor for me to accept that gold medal for all of the millions of Rosies and women in our country who helped save our state and helped save our country, and they helped save the world.
And we're just so proud.
We've gone down in history.
And, women, we love you women!
We hope we've helped.
We hope we've helped.
[ Cheers and applause ] -Yes.
We thank you, Mae.
-Thank you.
-Thank you so much.
-And we love the young girls, too.
They're our future.
-Absolutely.
Thank you.
For all the women.
All the ladies who did it all.
[ Cheers and applause ] So great.
Thank you, Mae.
The U.S. Army Chorus Performs “This is My Country”
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The U.S. Army Chorus performs "This Is My Country" on the 2024 "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 42s)
A Tribute to the U.S. Military
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Host Alfonso Ribeiro tributes our nation's military service members at the 2024 "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 3s)
Smokey Robinson Performs “Tracks of My Tears”
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Enjoy “Tracks of My Tears,” performed by Smokey Robinson at 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (4m 2s)
Smokey Robinson Performs “Tears of a Clown”
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Smokey Robinson performs “Tears of a Clown” at the U.S. Capitol for the 2024 "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 17s)
Smokey Robinson Performs “I Second That Emotion”
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Smokey Robinson performs the Motown hit, “I Second That Emotion” on 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 10s)
Smokey Robinson Performs “Get Ready/My Girl” Medley
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Smokey Robinson performs “Get Ready/My Girl” medley on PBS’s 2024 A" Capitol Fourth." (3m 37s)
Sister Sledge Ft. Sledgendary Performs “Everybody Dance/We Are Family” Medley
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Sister Sledge Ft. Sledgendary perform "Everybody Dance," "We Are Family" at "A Capitol Fourth" 2024. (4m 29s)
Sheila E. Performs “The Glamorous Life”
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The iconic Sheila E. performs "The Glamorous Life" on the 2024 "A Capitol Fourth." (3m 36s)
Sheila E. Performs “Leader of the Band/Baby I’m a Star” Medley
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Sheila E. performs “Leader of the Band" and "Baby I’m a Star” at 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 41s)
Shawn Johnson East Pays Tribute to Olympic Team U.S.A.
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Shawn Johnson East shares an inspiring tribute to Team U.S.A. during 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 43s)
The National Symphony Orchestra Performs "The 1812 Overture"
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The National Symphony Orchestra performs "The 1812 Overture" on 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (3m 49s)
The National Symphony Orchestra Performs "Olympic Fanfare"
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The NSO performs John Wiliams' "Olympic Fanfare" on 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (1m 47s)
Loren Allred Performs “Over the Rainbow”
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Loren Allred enchants the crowd as she sings "Over the Rainbow" on PBS’s 2024 "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 29s)
Loren Allred Performs “America The Beautiful”
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Loren Allred performs "America the Beautiful" on PBS’s 2024 "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 21s)
Fitz & Noelle from Fitz and The Tantrums Perform “Sway” & “HandClap”
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Fitz & Noelle from Fitz and The Tantrums sing “Sway” and “HandClap” at 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (4m 42s)
Fantasia Performs "The Star-Spangled Banner"
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Grammy-winning artist Fantasia performs “The Star-Spangled Banner” on 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 27s)
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Get up and get ready to groove to Fantasia’s performance of “I Wish” at the 2024 "A Capitol Fourth"! (3m 17s)
Darren Criss Performs “I’m So Excited”
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Darren Criss gets the crowd on their feet with “I’m So Excited” on 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 43s)
Darren Criss Performs “Don’t Stop Believin'”
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Darren Criss performs “Don’t Stop Believin'” on the 2024 "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 43s)
Chloe Flower Performs Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”
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Classical pianist Chloe Flower performs Gershwin's “Rhapsody in Blue” on 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth." (5m 55s)
The Cast of A Capitol Fourth 2024 Performs “God Bless America”
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The cast of 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth" performs the patriotic anthem “God Bless America.” (2m 34s)
Alfonso Ribeiro Performs with Britt Stewart
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Opening 2024’s "A Capitol Fourth" is host Alfonso Ribeiro with “Dancing on the Ceiling”! (2m 49s)
Now PlayingAlfonso Ribeiro Pays Tribute to the Greatest Generation
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Alfonso Ribeiro pays tribute to members of the Greatest Generation on the 2024 "A Capitol Fourth." (2m 28s)
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Join host Alfonso Ribeiro for A Capitol Fourth on Thursday, July 4 at 8/7c on PBS. (30s)
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A Capitol Fourth is sponsored by The Boeing Company and made possible by the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army and public television stations nationwide. All travel is provided by American Airlines.