Washington, DC - With the support of the Atlantic Council and through an agreement with the Verbundnetz Gas Aktiengesellschaft, a German company, a remarkable segment of the Berlin Wall will be delivered to the State Department tomorrow, for installation in the U.S. Diplomacy Center. The installation will occur on the 54th anniversary of the closure of the border from East to West Berlin on August 13, 1961.

This unique segment of the Wall is personally signed by individuals who played key roles, including former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, former leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, former Polish President and Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, current German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker. The Wall serves as a permanent reminder of our shared history and the indispensable role of our transatlantic bond for the future.

Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy will be joined by German Charge d’Affaires Philipp Ackermann and Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Paige Ennis in overseeing the installation.

The U.S. Diplomacy Center, a state-of-the-art museum and education center, is currently under construction. The Center will tell the story of American diplomacy and invite visitors to explore the impact of diplomacy through interactive exhibits, compelling artifacts, hands-on education programs, diplomatic simulations, and the expertise of foreign affairs specialists. Education will be at the core of the work of the Center, which will be located at the Department of State headquarters, the historic Harry S Truman Building.