General and Mrs. Myers Join Festival

The GI Film Festival is pleased to announce that General Richard B. Myers, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Mary Jo Myers, have joined the festival line-up.  The General and Mrs. Myers will provide a special introduction for Gary Sinise’s screening of Forrest Gump on Saturday night, May 26, at 8:00 p.m., and plan to attend the VIP reception to follow to benefit the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. 

General Myers retired as the 15^th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, 2005, after serving over 40 years in the US Air Force.  During his term as Chairman, he served as principal military adviser to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.

A native of Kansas City , Kansas , and a 1965 graduate of Kansas State University , General Myers also served as Vice Chairman and Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  During his military career, he held command positions at every level, including Commander of US Space Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Pacific Air Forces, US Forces Japan, and two fighter wings.  A fighter pilot with over 4,100 hours, General Myers logged more than 600 combat hours during the Vietnam conflict.

Mary Jo Myers is currently an associate director of public affairs for Hayes and Associates, a public relations, communications and event planning firm.    She also continues her involvement with the military by serving on the board of the National Military Family Association, Discovery’s Military Channel, and the board of trustees for the Fisher House Foundation, an organization that provides homes near military hospitals and veterans’ medical centers where military family members can stay while loved ones are being treated. 

Mrs. Myers has won multiple awards for her humanitarian work, and in recognition of her volunteer service, she was appointed to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation in February, 2006.   Mrs. Myers holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Kansas State University and has served as an educator in secondary school and adult education, and helped to promote a children's safety program with a national organization.      

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