Washington, D.C
Washington, DC’s Renowned Astronaut, Col. Frederick D. Gregory
Frederick Drew Gregory, is the first astronaut born, reared, and educated in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, which is also home to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. He is a veteran of three space shuttle missions and the first African American to pilot and command a mission in space. He is also the first African American to rise to the second-highest NASA leadership position, Deputy Administrator.
Gregory’s story is generationally entwined with the history of the District of Columbia (DC). In an era of profound racism and segregation, Gregory’s family were respected members of Washington’s influential Black community. When he was born in 1941, members of his family already were making history, and Gregory followed suit in his own time.
NASA portrait of Frederick Gregory.
Gregory’s uncle, Dr. Charles R. Drew, became famous for his medical research and innovation during World War II. His father, Francis Anderson Gregory, was locally prominent as assistant superintendent of DC Public Schools for many years and served as the first Black president of the Public Library’s Board of Trustees; the branch library in the Fort Davis neighborhood where the Gregory family lived is named in his honor. His mother, Nora Drew Gregory, a graduate of Dunbar High School, had a thirty-year career as a teacher in Washington’s elementary schools and led the library board after her husband. Her niece—Gregory’s cousin—Charlene Drew Jarvis served on the DC Council for more than two decades.
Gregory remembers his father taking him to Andrews Air Force Base for air shows and car races when he was a child; that was his earliest exposure to aviation. He also knew several Tuskegee Airmen who were friends of his father and often visited the Gregory’s home, when he was too young to understand their historical significance but enjoyed their tales of flying. As a teenager, he made the connection between flying and the military and decided he wanted to be an aeronautical engineer and military aviator.
Gregory’s life became illustrious after he graduated from Anacostia High School—Washington’s schools were not yet integrated, but Gregory was active in an integrated Boy Scout troop. Nominated by civil rights activist and member of Congress Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Gregory attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he was the only Black cadet in his class and one of very few African Americans at the academy. He graduated with distinction and a degree in military engineering in 1964 and was commissioned as an officer into the Air Force.
When Gregory joined the Air Force, he first flew helicopters and then fighter aircraft, including the F-4 Phantom. He served in Vietnam, where he flew 550 combat rescue missions, and returned to enter the Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent, Maryland. While serving as an engineering and research test pilot for both the Air Force and NASA, he earned a master’s degree in information systems from George Washington University, in his hometown. During his career, he logged 7,000 hours in more than 50 aircraft.
In 1978, NASA introduced Gregory as a pilot among the first new astronauts—the “TFNG” or “thirty-five new guys”—selected for the space shuttle era. His astronaut class included two more African Americans, scientists Guion Bluford and Ronald McNair; the three soon became NASA’s first African American astronauts to go to space. Among his other classmates were the first six women selected to join the astronaut corps and the first Asian American in space. The group received extraordinary media attention as NASA’s first examples of a more diverse astronaut corps. Jet and Ebony magazines featured the African Americans with pride.
Ronald McNair, Guy Bluford, and Fred Gregory, three of NASA’s first Black astronauts from the 1978 astronaut class.
March 1978 cover of Jet Magazine featuring McNair, Bluford, and Gregory.
Gregory flew on three space shuttle missions. The first, in 1985, was STS 51-B, a Spacelab science mission on Challenger, for which he was the pilot, the first African American in that role. He flew again in 1989, this time as commander of STS-33 on Discovery, for a classified Department of Defense mission. On this mission, Gregory became the first African American to command a spaceflight. His next mission as commander, STS-44 in 1991 on Atlantis, was also for the Department of Defense. Gregory claims he was so focused on his missions that he never really thought about being the first Black pilot or commander, but other people made it a mark of distinction.
After his last flight, Gregory transferred to NASA Headquarters in Washington to serve as Associate Administrator for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance and then as Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Flight. In 2002, he became NASA’s Deputy Administrator, second in command to the Administrator during the difficult time of the 2003 Columbia tragedy and its aftermath. Once again, he was the first African American in the agency’s senior leadership, a position he held until 2005. He also served briefly as acting NASA Administrator in early 2005, after Sean O’Keefe left and before Mike Griffin was sworn in. His NASA career was equally balanced between years in Texas and back home in Washington, DC.
Gregory has received many military and NASA medals and awards, as well as education and civic honors. Like his father’s legacy was honored with a named library, Gregory has been honored with a building bearing his name, Gregory Hall at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
After he logged 455 hours in space, spent his military career in Vietnam and around the country and his active astronaut years in Texas, Gregory came home to Washington for his final stint at NASA and his retirement. This renowned Washingtonian remains active as a speaker, advisor, and consultant.
Washington, D.C
The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT, America’s National Night of Remembrance, from Washington, D.C. Sunday, May 25
Hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise with Performances by
Robert Patrick, Gretchen Mol, Blair Underwood, Loren Allred, Scotty Hasting,
Yolanda Adams, Mary McCormack, Angel Blue and Maestro Jack Everly
conducting the National Symphony Orchestra
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On Sunday, May 25, the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for its 36th annual broadcast. This beloved tradition honors the courage, sacrifice and service of our military men and women, their families, and pays tribute to all those who have given their lives in defense of our nation. The evening will feature powerful storytelling, musical salutes and poignant moments of remembrance. Hosting the concert are Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise – both steadfast champions of veterans’ causes and active service members.
“This concert is a powerful reminder of what Memorial Day truly represents,” said co-host Joe Mantegna. “It offers comfort, connection, and community for families who have lost loved ones in service to our country, honoring their sacrifice with the dignity and gratitude they deserve.”
“Joe and I are honored to host this annual tribute to our American heroes – past and present – that salutes the courage and commitment of those who have served and those who continue to serve,” continued co-host Gary Sinise. “The freedoms we enjoy are made possible by the brave men and women who wear the uniform.”
The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT airs live on Sunday, May 25, 2025, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. E.T. on PBS, as well as to our troops serving around the world on American Forces Network. The concert will also be streaming on YouTube and www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert and available as Video on Demand, May 25 to June 8, 2025.
The 2025 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT will feature the following segments:
250th Anniversary Army, Navy and Marine Corps
The concert will salute the 250th anniversary of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps to honor these service branches who have defended America even before it was a nation.
World War II 80th Anniversary – featuring acclaimed actor Robert Patrick (TULSA KING, 1923, PEACEMAKER).
A salute to the millions of Americans who served the nation in World War II in uniform and on the home front. On the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, the concert will share the story of U.S. Marine Veteran Don Graves, who fought as a flamethrower at the bloody 36-day Battle of Iwo Jima, a volcanic island of strategic importance to the invasion of Japan and the end of the war. Members of the Greatest Generation will be honored on stage.
Gold Star Families Tribute – with SAG Award-winning actress Gretchen Mol (BOARDWALK EMPIRE, MILLERS IN MARRIAGE).
The concert will remember and honor our fallen heroes and Gold Star Families with the poignant and inspiring story of Gold Star Wife and mother of two, Krista Simpson Anderson, whose beloved Green Beret husband was killed in May of 2013 in Afghanistan when their sons were toddlers.
Vietnam War Dustoff Crews – with Emmy/Grammy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actor Blair Underwood (QUANTICO, LONGLEGS, L.A. LAW).
The concert will honor the courageous Army Air Ambulance Units of the Vietnam War with the story of helicopter pilot Col. Otis Evans, (Ret.). At great risk and danger under enemy fire, Evans and his crew rescued wounded troops in remote locations. Commonly called “Dustoff,” their radio call sign, it is estimated that these life-saving air medevac units evacuated 900,000 casualties during the war.
This inspiring night of remembrance will also feature performances by: country music star and wounded Army combat veteran Scotty Hasting; multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter and recording artist Loren Allred (THE GREATEST SHOWMAN); four-time Grammy-Award Award-winning Gospel music legend Yolanda Adams; Tony Award-nominated star of stage and screen Mary McCormack (HEELS); two-time Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue (AIDA at the Metropolitan Opera); and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.
In tribute to all the members of our armed forces, the annual audience favorite Salute to Services features the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Service Color Teams. Also participating are members from The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, vocalists from the Quantico Marine Band, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.
The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT is pleased to welcome back Lockheed Martin as lead corporate sponsor. Lockheed Martin’s commitment to the military and veteran community, integral to the center of everything it does, begins with the veterans, National Guard and Reservists, and military spouses that comprise more than one-fifth of its 121,000 employees. Lockheed Martin’s charitable investments are made to causes that support service members, veterans, and their families. Lockheed Martin always works to make a positive impact on the lives of those who have served our nation, never forgetting those who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our freedoms.
The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT welcomes back the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans as lead underwriter, a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding leaders by bestowing upon them the prestigious Horatio Alger Award and lifetime membership in the Association. to more than 37,000 deserving students. Through the Association, Horatio Alger Members and supporters ensure the American Dream for future generations by sponsoring one of the nation’s largest privately-funded, need-based scholarship programs. Over the past 40 years, more than $265 million has been awarded in undergraduate, graduate, military veteran and career and technical education scholarships to more than 37,000 deserving students. In addition to financial assistance, the Association provides comprehensive support services to its Scholars enabling them to succeed academically, personally, and professionally.
The concert is also made possible by grants from: the National Park Service, the Department of the Army, General Dynamics, 84 Lumber, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television stations nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.
The program is a co-production of Michael Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.
For images and additional information, visit PBS Pressroom at www.pbs.org/pressroom
Visit the program website at http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/home/
Connect with us on:
http://www.facebook.com/memorialdayconcert
twitter.com/MemorialDayPBS (#MemorialDayPBS)
https://www.instagram.com/memdaypbs/ (@memdayPBS)
@memdaypbs on TikTok
SOURCE Capital Concerts
Fights broke out in the Navy Yard area of D.C. Saturday night, causing Metro to close part of the nearby station.
Video from a News4 viewer shows a large crowd of what appears to be dozens of young people at New Jersey Avenue and M Street SE. Multiple police cruisers responded to the block, and some people appeared to be running away.
A spokesperson for WMATA said a large group of teens were fighting, which caused them to close the New Jersey Avenue side of the Navy Yard-Ballpark station.
It’s still unclear what led up to the fight or if anyone was arrested.
Last month, D.C. police arrested six young people after fights broke out at the Wharf in Southwest.
Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story.
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 17, 2025 /
17:30 pm
The Catholic Information Center (CIC) on Saturday held its third annual Eucharistic procession through Washington, D.C. in which more than 1,000 participants processed through the downtown area with the Blessed Sacrament.
Father Charles Trullols, the director of the CIC, told CNA the day was “perfect.”
The event kicked off with a Mass at CIC’s chapel. The group of attendees was so large that it could not fit inside the chapel itself, sending people to watch the Mass on a screen outside where they were eventually brought Holy Communion.
The procession began after Mass and was led by the crossbearer, candle-bearers, religious sisters, and young children who recently received their first Holy Communion and who laid rose petals ahead of the Eucharist.
Trullols carried the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance and held it high for the crowd to witness and follow. A choir, priests, and lay people followed behind through the downtown area.
As the group walked, attendees said prayers and sang hymns. Some bystanders joined in and others kneeled as the procession passed by.
Gerard McNair-Lewis, a development associate at CIC, noted that the event is held during May, “the month of Mary.”
“What better way to celebrate Mary than to honor her son’s Eucharistic presence?” he said.
The group processed down K Street. The Eucharist in the procession was “the closest tabernacle to the White House,” McNair-Lewis said. It’s “a great testament that religious things happen in our nation’s capital.”
Throughout the procession the group stopped at different locations to kneel before the Blessed Sacrament and hear the gospel. At one stop, Monsignor Charles Pope spoke outside the veteran’s affairs office.
Pope praised veterans and the military, pointing out that “many put their lives on the line so that others can live in greater security and freedom.” He said these individuals “imitate Jesus who lays down His life so we can live eternally.”
Krista Anderson, an attendee from Virgina, told CNA that her husband Micheal Simpson was a staff sergeant for the United States Army who was killed in Afghanistan.
She felt the moment to honor veterans was a message from God.
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Craig Carter flew into Washington for a work trip and “happened to see [the procession].”
A Protestant, Carter said God “wanted me to come to D.C. early just to pray.” He joined the procession, he said, because God “has been working on [his] heart.”
“Adoration has always been super special to me in my Catholic faith,” Lydia Vaccaro, a young attendee from Virgina, told CNA. “So it brought me here.”
“It’s a beautiful witness,” said attendee Hannah Hermann.
“I like being in front of processions like this, where you’re out and people see,” Hermann said. “I’ve heard conversion stories from people who witness a procession.”
“The procession was beautiful,” Trullols told CNA after the event concluded. “Every year it is getting better.”
“We know how to do it better and it’s growing – the quantity of people, the attention, and also the way we organize the liturgy and the music,” Trullols said.
Tessa Gervasini is an intern for Catholic News Agency and a fellow of the College Fix. She recently graduated from Texas Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication.
Hodge discusses goals for West Virginia hoops in year one
Denzel Washington snaps during heated exchange with photographer on Cannes red carpet: ‘Stop!’
Survey time: We want to hear Wisconsin Badgers fans expectations for football, volleyball
Former West Virginia Army National Guard leader to testify at congressional committee meeting regarding security of crucial Rare Earth minerals – WV MetroNews
Wyoming Housing Network Celebrates 20 Years of Strengthening Communities
-
Austin, TX1 week agoBest Austin Salads – 15 Food Places For Good Greens!
-
Politics1 week agoPresident Trump takes on 'Big Pharma' by signing executive order to lower drug prices
-
News5 days agoAs Harvard Battles Trump, Its President Will Take a 25% Pay Cut
-
Technology1 week agoMexico is suing Google over how it’s labeling the Gulf of Mexico
-
Business1 week agoIn-N-Out Burger adds three new California locations to list of 2025 openings
-
Politics1 week agoDHS says Massachusetts city council member 'incited chaos' as ICE arrested 'violent criminal alien'
-
News1 week agoWhy Trump Suddenly Declared Victory Over the Houthi Militia
-
Politics5 days agoRepublicans say they're 'out of the loop' on Trump's $400M Qatari plane deal