George C. Marshall International Center

09/03/2026

A childhood in Nazi-occupied Norway. A life abroad during the postwar years. Decades of community service and historic preservation in a rapidly changing Loudoun County.

On Sunday, October 18 from 2-3:30 p.m., join former Marshall House Director of Marketing and Development Cheryl Sadowski at Dodona Manor as she shares the remarkable story of Eeda Dennis—a Norwegian and American citizen who generously supported the preservation of Dodona Manor. Hear about the lessons in courage, curiosity and change that emerged from their many afternoons together.

📖 Afternoons with Eeda: Reflections on Courage, Curiosity and Change
📅 Sunday, October 18, 2–3:30 p.m.
📍 Outdoors on the grounds of Dodona Manor, 312 E. Market Street, Leesburg

The outdoor program is free, but seating is limited and registration is required:

For five years on weekend afternoons, former Marshall House Director of Marketing and Development Cheryl Sadowski met with Mrs. Eeda Dennis. Eeda was an Norwegian and American citizen who generously supported the preservation of General Marshall’s home, Dodona Manor, as a house museum and h

09/01/2026

On September 1, 1939—the same day Germany invaded Poland and World War II began in Europe—George C. Marshall was sworn in as Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

He inherited a small, poorly equipped peacetime Army of fewer than 190,000 soldiers. Many units lacked personnel, modern equipment and experience conducting large-scale operations.

Marshall recognized that preparing for the challenges ahead would require more than increasing the Army’s size. He launched ambitious training exercises, modernized its organization and elevated promising officers based on their abilities rather than seniority.

Over the next six years, Marshall oversaw the Army’s transformation into a force of more than 8 million and helped shape the strategy that led the Allies to victory.
It was an extraordinary test of preparation, judgment and visionary leadership—and one that began 87 years ago today.

08/26/2026

🐾 George and Katherine Marshall were devoted dog lovers—and this National Dog Day, we’re honoring one of the most memorable members of their household: Fleet, their spirited Dalmatian.

Our friends at the George C. Marshall Foundation recently captured Fleet’s exploits in the delightfully titled “Oh, Fleet!”

Fleet loved accompanying Marshall on horseback rides—but he also had a habit of climbing into strangers’ cars. On one occasion, he was discovered eating sandwiches in a car near Arlington House.

“Marshall reported that ‘Fleet is crazy about getting in the car when I go horse-back riding. The trouble is, he gets into anybody’s car. [Sgt. George] Dumcke removed him from a stranger’s car recently near the Lee mansion, where he was eating sandwiches, and yesterday the military police brought him home.’”

Another adventure took Fleet across Memorial Bridge into Washington, D.C., before a government worker brought him home.

Read “Oh, Fleet!” and see archival photos:
https://www.marshallfoundation.org/articles-and-features/oh-fleet/

08/24/2026

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Michael Morell was at President George W. Bush’s side when America came under attack. It fell to Morell, then the president’s daily intelligence briefer, to deliver the stark assessment to the Commander in Chief: the nation was at war.

On September 9, join us in Leesburg as former BBC producer David Taylor sits down with Morell to revisit that fateful day, the decisions that followed and the experiences that shaped his 33-year career at the CIA.

Registration is limited to 200 attendees, and only registered guests will be admitted—reserve your seat today. This event is only available in person.

📅 Wednesday, September 9 | 5:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 Douglass Community Center, Leesburg
🅿️ Free parking available

Learn more and register:
https://www.georgecmarshall.org/events/michaelmorrell

08/19/2026

On World Humanitarian Day, we recognize those who work to assist people affected by conflict, disaster and crisis—and reflect on the role humanitarian action can play in building a more peaceful world.

George C. Marshall understood that lasting peace required more than military victory. It also required economic stability, the restoration of communities devastated by war and a deep investment in hope.

That conviction helped inspire the Marshall Plan, which supported Europe’s recovery after World War II while strengthening the foundations of democratic government and international cooperation that endure.

Marshall’s example reminds us that selfless service and visionary leadership are not abstract ideals. They are demonstrated through actions that restore opportunity, preserve human dignity and help societies build a more secure future.

08/18/2026

What can the original Marshall Plan teach us about the challenges of today—and what might a Marshall Plan in the 21st century look like?

This fall, the Marshall Center will present two virtual Foreign Policy Forums exploring the Marshall Plan from historical and contemporary perspectives.

Both programs will be held virtually from noon to 1 p.m. ET and are free to attend.
On September 17, acclaimed historian Melvyn P. Leffler will examine the plan’s origins, its role in shaping the Cold War and its place among the most successful initiatives in the history of American foreign policy.

Learn more and register: https://www.georgecmarshall.org/events/2026/fpf-06-tmcmp

On October 15, Dr. Michael McDonald will consider how the principles behind the Marshall Plan might be applied to helop solve today’s interconnected economic, environmental, technological and public health challenges.

Learn more and register: https://www.georgecmarshall.org/events/2026/fpf-06-tmcmp-krswp

THE MARSHALL PLAN IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE The Marshall Plan was the most pivotal event in shaping the opening chapters of the Cold War. Mr. Leffler will discuss its origins and will explain why it provoked Stalin and triggered his bitter reaction. Although it contributed greatly to the division

08/13/2026

Summer may be winding down, but there's still time to add one more great book to your reading list.

Join the Marshall Center Book Club on Zoom, Wednesday, September 2 (12–1 p.m. ET) as we discuss “To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause” by Pulitzer Prize winner Benjamin Nathans.

This compelling history follows the Soviet dissident movement—ordinary citizens who challenged an authoritarian system with extraordinary courage. Drawing on diaries, letters, interviews and KGB records, Nathans tells the stories of those who chose to live as free people in an unfree society, helping reshape the course of the twentieth century.

Whether you're joining us for the first time or you're a returning member, our monthly Book Club is a welcoming opportunity to explore history through exceptional books and lively discussion. And stay tuned—our fall reading list features more thought-provoking titles to be announced soon.

📚 Register today and make this your final (or first!) great read of the summer: https://www.georgecmarshall.org/events/2026/book-club-09

To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement (Pulitzer Prize Winner) By Benjamin Nathans

08/11/2026

"The most enduring forms of power are often the least visible. George Marshall modeled a form of leadership that was disciplined, restrained and deeply grounded."
Those words from Marshall Center Board Member Janet Rathod capture the enduring relevance of General Marshall's example.

As Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Johns Hopkins University and School of Medicine, Janet brings more than two decades of leadership in cybersecurity, intelligence and national security. Before joining Johns Hopkins, she held senior leadership roles at Citigroup and Capital One and spent 16 years with the FBI, including overseas assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan. A graduate of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and later an adjunct faculty member there, she brings a unique perspective to our mission of cultivating ethical leadership.

Read Janet's full Board Member Profile and reflections on Marshall's legacy and the future of the Marshall Center in the most recent edition of the Dodona Dispatch: https://l1nq.com/8qcl92j

08/07/2026

On National Purple Heart Day, we pause to honor the men and women who have been wounded or have given their lives in service to our nation. The Purple Heart stands as a lasting symbol of extraordinary sacrifice and the tremendous human cost of war.

For General George C. Marshall, that cost was deeply personal. His stepson, 2nd Lt. Allen Tupper Brown — a Purple Heart recipient — was killed in action on May 29, 1944, while leading his tank platoon near Velletri, Italy, during the Allied advance toward Rome. He rests today at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno. Like countless American families, the Marshalls knew firsthand the profound loss that can accompany military service.

Years later, Marshall reflected in his Nobel Peace Prize lecture: "The cost of war in human lives is constantly spread before me, written neatly in many ledgers whose columns are gravestones." Behind every Purple Heart is a story of courage, service and sacrifice that must never be forgotten.

Today, we remember all Purple Heart recipients and honor the families who have carried their legacy forward. May we always be worthy of their sacrifice.

08/05/2026

Thanks for having us, Leesburg Police Department!

A representative for The George C. Marshall International Center standing at their community organization booth.