NOON at the NATIONAL - The National Theatre of Washington DC

The National Theatre is a 501.c.3.not-for-profit organization

175th Anniversary Campaign
NOON at the National
FREE - Thursday - MARCH 18th - at NOON

The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004

ONE LUCKY ATTENDEE WILL WIN A FREE AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE BOOK.
ANOTHER WILL WIN TWO TICKETS TO FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, OR SOME OTHER FUTURE MAINSTAGE SHOW OF THEIR CHOICE AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE.

Admission is FREE. Seating is limited. Tickets are required, and are distributed one half-hour prior to the program, on a first-come-first-served policy. One ticket only to each person in line. Information available at 202-783-3372.

MEET THE AUTHOR: THOMAS E. CROCKER
BRADDOCK'S MARCH:
HOW THE MAN SENT TO SEIZE A CONTINENT
CHANGED AMERICAN HISTORY

In 1755, Major General Edward Braddock was sent by Great Britain on a mission to drive France once and for all from the New World.

Accompanied by the largest armed expeditionary force ever sent to North America, Braddock’s primary target was the Forks of the Ohio, where he planned to seize Fort Duquesne and then march north to the Canadian border.

After landing in Alexandria, Virginia, Braddock organized his troops and supply chain, threatened to billet soldiers in private homes, and called the first congress of royal governors in America to discuss using local revenue to pay for the expedition—issues that were to drive the future split between the colonies and Britain.

In May, the expedition began its nearly 250-mile trek, heroically cutting through dense wilderness, fording rivers, and scaling mountains, while hauling heavy artillery and the first wheeled vehicles ever to cross the Appalachian Mountains.

Braddock was joined on the expedition by a young Virginia colonel, George Washington, and among those driving the wagons was Daniel Boone. Less than a day’s march from Fort Duquesne, Braddock’s exhausted column was annihilated by a combined French and Indian force, some of whom fired rifles—probably the first effective use of this weapon in battle.

More than two-thirds of Braddock’s British and colonial troops suffered casualties— more than in the Charge of the Light Brigade— and Braddock himself fell mortally wounded, while George Washington miraculously escaped harm despite four bullet holes through his clothing. With this battle, North America at once started and was drawn into a global war between Britain and France.

THE AUTHOR
Thomas E. Crocker, the author of Braddock's March, is a partner in the Washington, DC office of a large law firm, where he specializes in regulatory aspects of international business. Earlier in his career, he served in the U.S. State Department. Mr. Crocker is a native Washingtonian, who grew up a block and a half from General Braddock's line of march. He graduated from Princeton University and Columbia Law School. He has published articles in the Wall Street Journal, International Financial Law Review, National Law Journal and other publications. He and his wife have two teen-aged sons and live in Virginia.

THE SERIES
This salon-style series explores our heritage, culture and current events with an author reading and discussing a new book in the intimate and elegant Helen Hayes Gallery of the historic National Theatre. The comfortable setting provides an ideal forum for the public to engage in lively conversation with an author -- and perhaps acquire a book personally inscribed by its author -- all at midday, on a weekday, at a convenient downtown location.

NOTE
Books will not be sold on this occasion. However, the book is available in bookstores and on the Internet, and purchasers can bring their copies for signing by the author.
http://www.amazon.com/Braddocks-March-Continent-Changed-American/dp/1594160961

The program is supported by contributions from members of The National Theatre Circle.
175th Anniversary Campaign: Click here for information.

NOON - THURSDAY APRIL 15
MEET THE AUTHOR - RUTH SIMKIN
The Jagged Years of Ruthie J:
A Doctor Recalls Her Teen-Age Years as a Mental Patient
http://www.nationaltheatre.org/noon/noon_simkin.htm
Video Preview - The Book - http://www.jaggedyears.ca/JaggedYears/Book_Video_Trailer.html
Video Preview - The Author - http://www.jaggedyears.ca/JaggedYears/Video_with_Author.html

NOON - THURSDAY MAY 20
MEET THE AUTHORS - JUDITH MARTIN AND JACOBINA MARTIN
Miss Manner's Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding:
Advice for the Bride, Her Family and All Civilized People
http://www.nationaltheatre.org/noon/noon_martin.htm