Mary McCormack will step in as co-host of the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C., after Joe Mantegna said Thursday he needed to remain in Los Angeles because of unforeseen circumstances. McCormack will share emcee duties with Gary Sinise when the concert airs Sunday on PBS.
Mantegna said he was sorry to miss the event in person, but he said he was looking forward to joining the millions of Americans watching Sunday’s concert on PBS. He added that he would keep supporting the National Memorial Day Concert for years to come and said the event’s mission of remembering those who have died, honoring those who have served and recognizing the sacrifices of military families is one he will always hold close to his heart.
The concert is one of the country’s most visible Memorial Day observances, bringing together performances and tributes in the nation’s capital at a moment when many families are marking the holiday and remembering service members who never came home. Noah Wyle, Melissa Leo, Jonathan Banks and Alan Jackson were also expected to take part in Sunday’s program.
The late change leaves McCormack to help carry a live national broadcast built around remembrance, duty and loss, but the lineup still keeps the focus on the people the concert is meant to honor. For Mantegna, the absence is temporary; for the event, the message stays the same.
