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WWII 75th Anniversary Commemorations: The servicemen who died during the attack of Pearl Harbor and the Doolittle Raiders who lost their lives during the war were among the Gold Stars honored in this year's Spirit of '45 March of Heroes on Memorial Day
 
 
2018
Spirit of '45 Memorial Day
"March of Heroes"
 
Youth marchers honored the 75th anniversaries of the formation of the WASP's, Merrill's Marauders, and the Japanese Americans combat units whose members posthumously received the Medal of Honor for their legendary bravery and valor. Above right, MOH Gold Star Lt. Sonny Bonnyham who was KIA on November 23, 1943 during the Battle for Tarawa.
 
 
"America's Longest Working Rosie the Riveter," Elinor Otto, and fellow Rosies led off this year's Spirit of '45 Memorial Day March of Heroes in the nation's largest Memorial Day Parade.
 
This year's entry included three vintage automobiles carrying Rosies, a float with WWII veterans and our fabled "Times Square Kiss" re-enactors (Theresa Werner and James Martin), and hundreds of youth volunteers who marched with photo posters of Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during WWII.
 
Thanks to U-Haul InternationalU-Haul International sponsored the Spirit of '45 Day float in the National Memorial Day Parade again this year. Founded by a WWII Navy veteran in 1945, U-Haul has helped to support Stories of Service and Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive for more than a decade.
 
For more photos, click here.
 
2018 Marchers gather for group photo in front of the Wall of Gold Stars at the National WWII Memorial 
 

2018 Spirit of '45 Memorial Day  program introduces annual wreath laying at Air Force Memorial 
 
Spirit of '45 youth leaders have attended every Memorial Day program held at the Air Force Memorial since it was dedicated in 2006, and have organized special programs at the Memorial, including 75th anniversary commemorations of the activation of the Tuskegee Airmen on March 22, 2016, and the Doolittle Raid 75th Anniversary Commemoration on April 18 2017.
 
When Spirit of '45 Youth Leader Madeleine LeBeau learned that there was no Memorial Day program planned this year, she quickly created one. With the help of Sharla Rausch of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Madeleine invited Brigadier General Lyn D. Sherlock (USAF retired) to be the key note speaker.  Madeleine rallied her fellow Girl Scouts to pay tribute to the 38 women who lost their lives servicing in the WASPs during WWII whose photos were presented during the ceremony and carried in this year's Spirit of '45 Memorial Day March of Heroes. 
 
 
Elinor Otto and fellow Rosie Ada Wynn Parker from Oregon attended a special Memorial Day program at the Air Force Memorial. The ceremony was organized by Ms. Madeleine LeBeau, a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient from Chantilly, VA, who has taken the leadership for Spirit of '45 events and activities in Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
 

 

CEREMONY AGENDA

 
Girl Scouts and DAR members with WASP KIA photo posters. Michigan students with banner of Tuskegee Airmen who made the ultimate sacrifice defending freedom and democracy during WWII.

 
Appreciation to our friends at Murphy Funeral Home
Special thanks again to Andy Linthicum and Murphy Funeral Home of Arlington, VA- a Dignity Memorial provider - for donating the wreaths that were placed at the Air Force Memorial and the National WWII Memorial. Andy has also made a donation to support the national expansion of the national network of Rosie Rose Gardens.
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