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Panasonic Celebrates Fleet Week With Commemorative Times Square Photo Opportunity For Visiting U.S. Sailors and Marines


WEBWIRE

Courtesy of Panasonic LUMIX Digital Cameras, Military Members Will Be Photographed on the News Astrovision, And Enjoy Performances from the Broadway Hit ‘In The Heights’



NEW YORK .– For the sixth consecutive year, Times Squares’ giant video screen, the News Astrovision by Panasonic, will again become the epicenter of New York City’s welcome to the U.S. sailors and Marines in town to celebrate Fleet Week 2008. Military members can visit Military Island at 43rd Street & Broadway in Times Square to be photographed on the Astrovision, courtesy of Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras, while also enjoying day-long entertainment as part of their Fleet Week celebration. The event is a collaborative effort of Fleet Week, the USO of Metropolitan New York, the United States Navy and Panasonic.



The News Astrovision by Panasonic, an icon for 12 years at One Times Square, is seen by millions on television, in the movies, and when visiting New York. Each New Year’s Eve, this video screen landmark, initially installed in 1996 and constantly being upgraded, helps revelers in Times Square count down the seconds toward the famed ball drop. During the 2008 Fleet

Week event, the Panasonic Astrovision will feature a special greeting to military members, as they are photographed in groups, with their images simultaneously projected on the giant screen behind them. Each of the servicemen and servicewomen photographed during the event will receive a commemorative photo and keepsake frame to remember the day. The Fleet Week photos will also be available at www.panasonic.com so they can be enjoyed and shared with family.



The special commemorative photo opportunity will also feature day-long entertainment for the sailors, Marines and New York City on-lookers with a kick-off performance by cast members Rosie Lani Fiedelman, Nina Lafarga, Afra Hines and Kyrsta Rodriguez from the 13-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway hit In the Heights. Also performing will be the USO Troupe of Metropolitan New York, American Cheerleaders, who have entertained the troops in Iraq and acoustic bands Lansdowne and Chasing Corona.



“It is a great pleasure for the USO of Metropolitan New York to again be partnering with Panasonic on this extraordinary Fleet Week event,” said Brian Whiting, executive director of the USO of Metropolitan New York. “There’s no better way for our sailors and marines to know how welcome they are in New York City than to see themselves on the Panasonic Astrovision.”



Throughout the day, Panasonic will award prizes, including the new Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ5 and FS5 digital cameras and the Panasonic Toughbook W7 laptop, to lucky military members.



About the News Astrovision by Panasonic

Measuring nearly three stories high and four stories wide, the screen, which contains 1.5 million light-emitting diodes (LEDs), is capable of displaying more than a billion shades of color. The News Astrovision by Panasonic features outdoor video screen technology with improved picture clarity and depth, brightness, durability and efficiency. Its lightweight, thin structure and easy maintenance make it ideal for unconventional outdoor installations.



Panasonic programming on the Astrovision is used to promote the company and its products. Because of its strong grass roots philosophy of social responsibility, Panasonic donates much of its ad time to community service and non-profit organization announcements and events, including those from the New York City Police, Fire and Parks Departments, NYC & Co., and Broadway on Broadway. A landmark performance of the opera “Madame Butterfly” was seen by thousands in Times Square on the Astrovision.



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