BERLIN, June 12 -- America's 40th president, Pres. Ronald W. Reagan, will be honored for his pivotal role in uniting East and West Germany and ending the Cold War at a new exhibit at the famous "Checkpoint Charlie" museum in Berlin, it was announced today.The announcement was made by Reagan's eldest son, Michael Reagan, and Alexandra Hildebrandt, head of the museum, on the 22nd anniversary of Pres. Reagan's legendary "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" speech given at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on June 12, 1987. Those words, leading to the reunification of Germany and the defeat of the Soviet Union, helped liberate millions of people throughout the world from communism and forever changed the course of history.
The new permanent exhibit will include a rare copy of Pres. Reagan's June 12, 1987 speech and other unique Reagan artifacts, such as a saddle given to Reagan by Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev, the last General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and the last head of state of the U.S.S.R.
"Liberating the world of communism was one of my father's gifts to the world. It was not only one of his greatest achievements -- it was his life's goal. This museum is dedicated to ensuring that the world, especially our young people, never forgets," Reagan said.
The artifacts were loaned to the museum by Reagan, on behalf of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, at a 6 p.m. ceremony at the Cafe Einstein in Berlin, Germany.
The exhibit is scheduled to open in November 2009. It is the result of a formal strategic agreement between the Reagan Legacy Foundation and museum officials in Berlin to create a monument to Pres. Reagan's legacy of ending the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union
Hildebrandt is the widow of the late Dr. Reinhard Hildebrandt, founder of the museum. Along with Reagan, Hildebrant and Don F. Jordan, an American journalist and recipient of the Lucius D. Clay medal, were featured speakers at the event.
The Reagan Legacy Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization founded by Michael Reagan to advance the causes Pres. Reagan held dear and to memorialize the accomplishments of his presidency. For more details about the Reagan Legacy Foundation, please visit: www.reaganlegacyfoundation.org.
Source: Reagan Legacy Foundation
