Events

ANNIVERSARY EVENTS CELEBRATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPLETION OF THE FDR MEMORIAL AND FDR WHEELCHAIR STATUE 

The Foundation hosted events in D.C. to mark the 25th anniversary of the completion of the FDR Memorial and the FDR wheelchair statue. 

We held a panel discussion on March 31, 2026 at American University titled: Disability Representation in America, FDR, the Fight for the Wheelchair Statue, and the Politics of Commemoration. The event also featured a screening of a 20-minute documentary, FDR: Great Abilities.  To learn more about the event, watch the video, read the transcript visit this article from our website. To watch the documentary click here.

The second event took place May 12 – another panel discussion, this one titled: A Landscape of Memory: Art and Design at the FDR Memorial and the Art of a Seamless Collaboration. View the video and read the transcript visit this article from our website.

The third event on May 13 was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the FDR wheelchair statue, which at its dedication on January 10, 2001, was called by President Bill Clinton - a “monument to freedom.” To view the event and read the transcript visit this article from our website.

A person with glasses and a dark blue blazer stands in front of a clear podium with a microphone. There is a brick background. A person in a blue jacket speaks at a microphone and podium in front of a brick background.

Left: Anniversary Co-Chair, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (retired).

Right: Anna Eleanor Fierst, Board Chair, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill; great-granddaughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

A person with a black dress and bright red earrings is holding a microphone in front of a brick background.A person with a grey suit stands in front of a clear podium with a microphone. There is a brick background.

Left: Lachi, Author of I Identify as Blind, CEO of RAMPD, Recording Academy National Trustee, Disability Culture Icon, and Producer of a GRAMMY-Nominated Album.

Right: Master of Ceremonies, Jonathan Darman, Historian and Author of Becoming FDR.

A person in a blue floral dress stands behind the clear podium with a mic. There is a brick background.a person with a black dress and glasses in a wheelchair is behind the podium with the microphone. There is a brick background.

Left: Alexandra Reeve Givens, CEO, Center of Democracy and Technology; Member, Board of Directors, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

Right: Regan Linton, Actor, writer, filmmaker, artistic creator, playwright and star of the theatrical production FDR’s Very Happy Hour.

A person in a dark blue suit with glasses stands in front of the clear podium with a microphone.A person with medium-length hair is in a National Park Service uniform behind the clear podium with a microphone.

Left: William Raimondo – Firefighter, City of Hackensack, NJ; Advisory Board, FDR Memorial Foundation.

Right: Jen Epstein, Education Specialist, National Mall & Memorial Parks, National Park Service.

A person with shoulder length hair and a teal outfit stands in front of a brick background, behind a clear podium with a microphoneA person with a blue patterned button up in a wheelchair is behind the podium with the microphone and in front of the brick background.

Left: Noriko Fujinami, Administrator of the Estate of Robert Graham.

Right: Theo Braddy, Executive Director, National Council on Independent Living.

Below: Presentation of Colors by the U.S. Navy Color Guard

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Two people in military uniforms stand in a line with American flags.