Today in the Department of Defense, Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates hosts an honor cordon to welcome Russian Minister of Defense Anatoly Serdyukov to the Pentagon at 10 a.m. EDT.  The cordon will be held on the steps of the Pentagon River Entrance.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort to the cordon.

Secretary Gates and Defense Minister Serdyukov will conduct a document signing at 1:45 p.m. EDT in Pentagon room 3E928.  The document signing will be open press and will be followed with a statement only.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn is traveling.

Army Col. James H. Johnson, commander of Task Force Bayonet, accompanied by the Governor of Wardak Province, Mohammad Halim Fidai, and Jordanian Army Col. Aref Alzaben, commander of Task Force Nashmi, will brief the media live from Afghanistan at 10:30 a.m. EDT in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973), to provide an update on current operations.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, will address the media live from Vicenza, Italy, at 12:30 p.m. EDT, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973).  On Sept. 10 the White House announced Giunta will receive the Medal of Honor and further details on the presentation ceremony will be released at a later date.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy will host the opening of the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Corridor at 2:30 p.m. EDT at the Pentagon, third floor, A ring, between the 6th and 7th corridors.  The Department of Defense historical exhibits curator designed the corridor with input and artifacts from MIA families and former POWs to honor the more than 88,000 Americans missing since World War II.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

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