U-Haul/Seward Johnson

On the Road Again

U-Haul International and Seward Johnson Atelier

team up to keep the Spirit of '45 alive in America

U -Haul International and the Seward Johnson Atelier have been helping promote public awareness and participation in Spirit of '45 Day since it was passed unanimously by the U.S. Congress in 2010.

U-Haul International

U-Haul has a special relationship with the Spirit of '45: the company was founded in 1945 by WWII Navy Veteran, "Sam" Shoen - an example of how America's returning veterans have created new companies, and in U-Haul's case - entirely new industries.

U-Haul co-founders Lt. L.S. "Sam" Shoen and his wife Anna Mary Carty Shoen

U-Haul's Communications and Community Relations Department has been supporting Spirit of '45 events and providing U-Haul trucks to transport Seward Johnson's sculptures depicting the image of the famous "Times Square Kiss" that has been taken on tours across the country.

U-Haul sponsored the Spirit of '45 table at the 2018 American Valor Awards banquet in Washington, D.C. which paid tribute to the Lt. Dick Cole, the last surviving member of the Doolittle Raiders, the Tuskegee Airmen and America's Longest Working Rosie the Riveter, Elinor Otto, who was presented with the Spirit of '45 National Leaders Medal by Ashleigh Wagner of U-Haul's Communications & Community Relations group, assisted by Ms Madeleine LeBeau, Girl Scout Award recipients and Spirit of '45 National Youth Ambassador.

U-Haul truck with Kiss visiting Spirit of '45 Day spokesmen legendary TV producer Norman Lear and Hollywood star Ernie Borgnine, and U-Haul executive.

Sculpture Foundation and U-Haul International team up to support Spirit of '45 tour of California and Arizona in 2011

Navajo Code Talkers with Times Square Kiss sculpture when it visited their Memorial in Window Rock, AZ

U-Haul supports 30,000 mile Spirit of '45 Times Square Kiss Tour in 2012

Spirit of '45 Day tour visited dozens of senior living centers across the country in 2012, thanks to the support of U-Haul International.

U-Haul trucks carry the "Kiss" in the nation's largest parades on Memorial Day and Veterans Day in Washington, DC and New York City, and in the National Pearl Harbor Day Parade in Honolulu.

U-Haul and "Times Square Kiss" in New York City "America's Parade" with active Navy personnel, American Legion National Commander Fang Wong, and crossing the red carpet with youth marchers.

U-Haul sponsors Spirit of '45 Day Float in Nation's Largest Memorial Day Parade

U-Hual International float in National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC, featuring Seward Johnson's sculpture and re-enactors depicting the famous "Times Square Kiss" Left, young volunteer carrying WWII posthumous Medal of Honor recipient, one of more than 300 poster photos carried each year in the Spirit of '45 Memorial Day March of Heroes.

Seward Johnson

Acclaimed artist Seward Johnson has graciously provided the use of his life sized sculpture depicting the iconic image of the famous "Times Square Kiss."

The "Kiss" sculptures are currently on view at the Battleship USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor and the Battleship USS Iowa in San Pedro, CA.

Seward Johnson sculpture on permanent display at the USS Missouri and the USS Iowa to help promote Spirit of '45 Day

A third sculpture frequently tours the country, and appears in the Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC in May and New York City's "America's Parade" on Veterans Day in November.

The Sculpture Foundation brought the 24 ft monumental version of the sculpture into Times Square for the Spirit of '45 Day mass Kiss In in 2010 and 2015.

Artist Seward Johnson in Times Square. Tuskegee Airman kisses his wife at the inaugural Spirit of '45 Day event on August 14, 2010. Monumental version now a permanent feature of San Diego's "Greatest Generation Walk."

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