EAST PEORIA (25News Now) – The Peoria Area World Affairs Council held a luncheon at the Par-A-Dice Hotel on Monday with a very notable guest.

Hundreds attended the event, headlined by retired General David Petraeus, a U.S. Army veteran and former director of the CIA.

Veterans, students and history buffs came to learn about the general’s new book, “Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine.”

Petraeus spoke about his background in historical conflicts and shared lessons on how to prepare for those conflicts in the future.

Don Samford, chairman of the PAWAC program, says it is important to hold events like this so the public can learn personally from world leaders like the general.

“Central Illinois and middle class America are just as interested (in world affairs as the rest of the world),” Samford said. “(This event) also gives people a chance to meet someone in person instead of just seeing them away from the television or radio.”

As chair of the program, he hopes the event will motivate people to contact their elected officials with ideas for improving our defense structure.

Samford says the best way to stay informed about PAWAC’s upcoming events is to become a member. For more information, visit pawac.org.

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