AFCEC cultural resources specialist attends special White House screening

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Schneider
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, D.C. --  The Air Force Civil Engineer Center's own Dr. Paul Green rubbed elbows with President Barack Obama, film celebrities and government officials alike at the White House Feb. 18, during a special screening of the motion picture The Monuments Men.

Green, cultural resource specialist for AFCEC's East Regional Support office at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., was invited to the screening by Maria Kouroupas, director of the Cultural Heritage Center for the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The invitation was in appreciation for his efforts to develop guidance and data to help avoid impacts on foreign cultural heritage during contingency operations and disaster response.

"This is quite an honor and well deserved," said Patricia Ogorzaly, chief of AFCEC's East Regional Support office.

The film, directed by George Clooney, follows a small band of middle-aged art experts, artists, educators and architects who signed up during World War II to join President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's program to protect and secure European art and other culturally important items before their destruction by Hitler.

According to a news release, the White House guest list for the special screening included the film's top-billed actors Matt Damon, Clooney and Bill Murray; Robert Edsel, the writer of the book, The Monuments Men; Harry Ettlinger, a member of the original Monument Men group; and several high-ranking state and federal officials.

"Yes, I played the groupie and was able to meet and chat with Messrs Clooney, Damon and Murray," Green said. "I met the author, Robert Edsel, who graciously inscribed the book for me."

He also met and chatted with Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Evan Ryan and Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs Richard Stengel.

"As the reception wound down and just prior to the film screening, President Obama entered the room and greeted the guests," Green said. "He endorsed the work of the original Monuments Men and that being conducted by their successors in the federal service."
 
Green was able to shake Mr. Obama's hand and introduce himself, something he considers the highlight of a memorable evening.