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America's Youth Remembers tthe Men and Women of Our Greatest Generation on Memorial Day and Veterans Day 
 

 
  
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March 21st is
National Rosie the Riveter Day
 
Join the
Rosie the Riveter
Memorial Rose Gardens
 
 
Remember Rosie the Riveter 
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Spirit of '45 Day message from Tuskegee Airman Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr.
August 10, 2024
National Spirit of '45 Day
Join us as we celebrate the Spirit of shared sacrifice, service, and national unity of the
"ordinary heroes" of America's Greatest Generation on the 76th anniversary of their Greatest Day
 
The Covid-19 Pandemic has claimed the lives of thousands of the surviving members of the World War II generation.
Please take time to pause and reflect on these men and women who fought to preserve freedom against the forces of facism during the most destructive war in human history, and strove to ensure a better future for their children and their children's children.
 
Join us in honoring their legacy by rebuilding America with decency, fairness, tolerance, compassion and respect for our democratic values and instituions, once again admired by people throughout the world. 

Keep the Spirit of our "Greatest Generation" alive by honoring them on Veterans Day
 
 
 
 Click on image to see video honoring the men and women of our "greatest generation" on the Anniversary of the end of WWII that is shown the anniversary of August 14, the day America learned that WWII was over and began rebuild the world.  Learn more
 
Thanks to Elton John for permission to use his song "Oceans Away" for this video,  produced by HHour Production
 
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"It was a love story - love of the folks at home, your girl, the guy next to you who was trying to keep you alive, your country..."
 
 
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Honor the Values and Achievments of
America's 'Greatest Generation'
 
 
Join the alliance of organizations and individuals that are working together to preserve and honor the legacy of the men and women of America's WWII generation so that their values and achievements will continue to inspire future generations - especially the youth of our nation.
 
Help promote public awareness and participation in Spirit of '45 Day, an annual national day honoring America's "Greatest Generation" that was passed unanimously by the U.S. Congress in 2010.
 
Spirit of '45 Day is observed on the second weekend in August, coinciding with the anniversary of August 14, 1945.
 
That was the day President Truman announced that the most destructive war in human history was over and spontaneous celebrations broke out around the world.
 
Almost immediately America began laying the foundations for a better future for its children and their children's children, for both its friends and allies and former enemies.
 
In 2015, the members of the Spirit of '45 coalition led an international commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, and this year is encouraging people commemorate the 75th anniversaries of important WWII events that took place from 1941 to 1945.
 
 
 
In 2020, a 75th Anniversary WWII Wall of Hono was created by the USS Midway in San Diego, where the Spirit of '45 Day campaign began in 2010. 
 
 
Kids Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive on Veterans Day 
 
Read all about it! 
 
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"America's Longest Working Rosie" Celebrates 100th Birthday! 
 
Elinor Otto, who continued working as a riveter until age 95, celebrated her 100th birthday during the annual American Valor awards banquet in Washington, DC. Elinor shared the stage with decorated combat veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
 
More
 
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The Chancellor's Last Ride
 
 
Farewell to Spirit of '45 Spoksman Dr. E. Burce Heilman, WWII Marine veteran of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and Chancellor of the University of Richmowho passed away on October 19, 2019, at age 93.
 
 
Dr. Heilman was a tireless advocate for keeping the Spirit of '45 alive - most memorably by riding more than 6,000 miles on his beloved Harley in 2015 and 2016, to pay tribute to the Gold Star Familes of America.
 
 
Dr. Heliman with fellow Iwo Jima Marine veteran, Woody Williams, at the end of the Chanellor's epic Spirit of '45 Ride for Gold Star Familes on Memorial Day 2016.  
 
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Click on images to see two views of video 
 
 
Alabama Spirit of '45 Day Ceremony
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hundreds of youth volunteers participated in the 12th annual "Spirit of '45 Memorial Day March of Heroes," as part of the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.
for their continuing support!
 
Click here to learn more and sign up for next year!
Spirit of '45 Goes to Washington to help support the Rosies! 
 
 
Members of the Spirit of '45 Day collaborative are preserving and honoring the legacy of the women who made history on the Home Front during WWII by creating a national network of rose gardens featuring a new official "Rosie the Riveter Rose."
 
 
Original Rosie Mae Krier walked Capitol Hill to urge for the immediate passage of the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal legislation now pending in the U.S. Congress
 
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Rosie Garden plaque. "Rosiettes" in San Diego with Rosie the Riveter roses. Campaign Honorary Chairwoman, Elinor Otto, "America's Longest Working Rosie," plants first Rosie the Riveter Memorial Roses .
 
 
 
Rosie Gardens national director Linda Laurie with Girl Scout and Original Rosie.  
 
Congratulations to all the Spirit of '45 Partners who celebrated National Women's History Month by honoring the legacy of the women who made history on the Home Front during World War II.
 
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March with a WWII Hero
on Veterans Day   
 
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 Spirit of '45 Day celebrated across America
 
 
Battle of the Bulge vet Luke Gasparre swings with the Spirit of '45
 
 
 Bandstand stars Laura Osnes and Corey Cott with Elinor Otto and Luke Gasparre
 
Girl Scout Spirit of '45 Day ceremony at National WWII Memorial
 
 Girls Scouts with Spirit of '45 Day spokesman Capt. Jerry Yellin 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8th Annual Sprit of '45 Day Event in League City TX 
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Honor the
Gold Stars of WWII
Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2019
 
Holding high our heroes on Memorial Day
 
Thanks to UHaul International for sponsoring the Spirit of '45 Memorial Day Float 
 
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April 18, 1941 - 2017 
 
Spirit of '45 calls for "National Day of Courage"
 
 
American and Chinese youth hold joint wreath laying ceremony at Air Force Memorial featuring Wall of Honor composed of individual photos of Doolittle Raiders.  Walls were displayed at museums and other locations around the country to begin a grassroots campaign to make April 18 an annual National Day of Courage.
Learn more  
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Attack on Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941 - December 7, 2016 
 
 
 
 Wall of photos of those who lost their lives during the December 7, 1941 attacks displayed at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI before being displayed at Pearl Harbor.  The Wall were also displayed in Washington, DC and on the USS Midway in San Diego. 
 
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Formation of the Tuskegee Airmen
March 22, 1941 - March 22, 2018 
 
 
  
Tuskegee Airman Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. and legendary TV producer Norman Lear together for 2015 New York City Veterans Day Parade.
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Spirit of '45 entry in America's Parade in LA on Veterans Day honoring Charles Durning and other Hollywood stars who served in World War II.  Spirit of '45 youth entries marched in parades in New York, San Diego, Silicon Valley and other cities this year.  
 
 
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Four Freedoms Speech
January 6, 1941 - January 6, 2016 
 
 FDR's grand daughter Anne 
 
Spirit of '45 Rally at USS Midway 
 
K
Like the Spirit of '45! 
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National Memorial Day
       March of WWII Gold Stars                
Last Monday in May
National Spirit of '45 Day
Second Sunday in August 


 
 
 
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Remembering
FDR's Four Freedoms
 
 
Norman Lear
salutes the
Tuskegee Airmen