KEEP THE SPIRIT OF ’45 ALIVE! is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of organizations and individual dedicated to preserving the legacy of the men and women of the Greatest Generation by so that their example of personal courage, shared sacrifice, “can-do” attitude and service to community can inspire Americans to come together to meet historic challenges of our era. In 2010, the coalition led the campaign that resulted in the United States Congress voting unanimously for a national "Spirit of '45 Day" to be observed on the second Sunday in every August, coinciding with the anniversary of August 14, 1945, the day President Truman announced the end of World War II. More... Spirit of '45 Day recognizes the achievements and positive values the men and women who were the 'ordinary heroes' of the generation that endured the difficult times of the Great Depression, fought and won World War II, and then participated in an unprecedented effort to rebuild the world by laying the foundations for a better future for their children and their children's children, for friend and former enemy alike. The coalition's shared mission is to ensure that Spirit of '45 Day continues to gain traction each year
Spirit of '45 Day events and activities are now being organized in hundreds of communities around the country each year, including observances during Major League Baseball games in August. To help build greater public awareness and participation in Spirit of '45 Day each year, youth volunteers march with enlarged photos of the members of the Greatest Generation in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC in May and in Veterans Day parades in New York, Indianapolis, Dallas, San Diego, San Jose, Portland and other cities in November. The coalition also collaborates on ongoing community engagement programs like the WWII Wall of Honor Project and the Times Square Kiss Project that invite families and friends of members of the Greatest Generation to share their photos and stories so that they can become part of a permanent national archive. In 2015, all of America's governors issued state proclamations in support of the Spirit of '45 World War II 70th Anniversary Commemoration, which began with a mass "Kiss In" in Times Square and concluded with an around the world Tribute that included wreath laying ceremonies at the WWII American WWII cemeteries in Asia and Europe and veterans cemeteries from the East Coast to Hawaii. Learn The members of the Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive coalition are now working together to ensure that Spirit of '45 Day continues to gain traction each year throughout America by collaborating with organizations and individuals that will be commemorating the 75th anniversaries of important WWII events during 2016 - 2020. The DCN was "present at the creation" of many initiatives to preserve and honor the legacy of the men and women of the WWII generation. In 1998, before the publication of Tom Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation" and Steven Spielberg's movies "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List." the DCN began mobilizing youth to produce short "digital stories" of WWII veterans in their families and communities so they could be shared on the Internet. www.Stories-of-Service.org In 2000, the DCN was invited to be was a Founding Partner of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, and later joined the campaign to help raise funds for the National World War II Memorial. In 2004, delegation of WWII veterans, their spouses and the young teens who had helped them produce their Stories of Service, were flown to Washington, DC by the chairman of United Airines to attend the dedication of the Memorial. On August 14, 2008, with the help of Hollywood actor Ernie Borgnine, the DCN introduced the idea of an annual national day to honor and preserve the legacy of the men and women of the WWII generation at a one-day symposium on the Queen Mary, attended by more than 30 WWII history museums and heritage societies. On August 14 of the following year, the DCN hosted a special event in Times Square to announce a national campaign to establish an annual Spirit of '45 Day. In January 2010, hundreds of people gathered on the USS Midway in San Diego to kick off the countdown to the first Spirit of '45 Day, which was passed unanimously by the U.S. Congress in time for it to be celebrated throughout America on the 65th anniversary of the end of WWII, i.e. "the greatest generation's greatest day." The DCN has continued to be the fiduciary and financial agent for the ongoing campaign to promote public awareness and participation in Spirit of '45 Day. Click here for archives of Spirit of '45 Day events and activities 2010 - 2012 Click here for a description of 2012 Spirit of '45 Day Click here for a description of 2011 Spirit of '45 Day Click here to see the 2010 kick off celebration in Times Square. For more media coverage of Spirit of '45 Day, click here. Spirit of '45 Day Express Travels 10,000 Miles Across 30 States in 5 Weeks! Click here to learn more about the Tour. Hundreds of Youth Participate in Spirit of '45 "Memorial Day of Service" in Washington, D.C. Click herel earn more! 2012 National Leaders Conference Click here to see a clip of the Closing Ceremonies in front of the famous Seward Johnson sculpture depicting the "kiss seen round the world." read more |
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