It was a memorable moment in history when President George W. Bush took the baton from conductor Joann Falletta at America’s 400^th Anniversary Celebration to lead a 400-piece orchestra for a few minutes during the recent May 11-13 celebration. This was certainly a noted highlight for many of the attendees. 

During the celebration, Falletta, conductor of the Virginia Symphony, led the orchestra, comprised of musicians from all over the country and anchored by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. 

“At the end of his speech, President Bush took the baton from Joann Falletta, and it was a very special, impromptu moment,” said Kevin Crossett, Jamestown 2007 Manager of Promotions and Public Relations. “He tapped the conductor on the shoulder and he took the baton and led the orchestra for a minute or two.” 

As a part of the three-day celebration, tens of thousands of visitors flocked to Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne and Anniversary Park over the weekend to participate in the 400^th anniversary of Jamestown, Va., America’s first permanent English Settlement. 

“We had a diversity of music throughout the weekend, with hundreds of performers on different stages, and with the President coming, it was just amazing," Crossett said. 

This event was part of an 18-month-long series of events that will commemorate the anniversary. The nation’s first representative government, free enterprise system and culturally diverse society began at Jamestown. State, national, and international commemorative events to salute these legacies began in May 2006 and will continue into 2008. 

The weekend proved to be a major success for Virginia, and the event also generated a worldwide interest in Jamestown history. President Bush was one of the many dignitaries who participated in the festivities. Other participants included Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, honorary chair of the commemoration, as well as Sen. John Warner, Sen. Jim Webb, members of the Virginia congressional delegation, tribal leaders of Virginia’s Indian tribes and African-American leaders. 

“The story of Jamestown will always have a special place in American history. It's the story of a great migration from the ‘Old World’ to the ‘New.’ It is a story of hardship overcome by resolve. It's a story of the Tidewater settlement that laid the foundation of our great democracy,” said President Bush while speaking during his Anniversary Weekend address to an audience of thousands. 

About 63,000 people visited the Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne and Anniversary Park throughout the weekend. Of the 63,000 visitors to Anniversary Weekend, approximately 47,000 were ticketed guests. About 14 percent of ticket holders purchased tickets the day of the event. Additionally, there were approximately 16,000 people who worked or volunteered during the event, including exhibitors, performers, and others who served in official roles. 

Yet in spite of the success, media attention prior to the event, such as in The Virginia Gazette and several other publications, made Jamestown the target of controversy in regard to its “multi-cultural focus” and its “Christian heritage.” 

However, according to officials, these concerns are not warranted.