Contact
Linda Laurie
lsizzle@aol.com
877-814-1945
When
Friday February 17, 2012 at 9:00 AM PST-to-
Sunday February 19, 2012 at 12:00 PM PST
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Our Hosts
Veterans Museum & Memorial Center
San Diego Hall of Champions
San Diego Air and Space Museum
San Diego Balboa Park 2115 Park Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101
Driving Directions
Our Honorary Conference Chairman Jerry Coleman, "Voice of the San Diego Padres", former New York Yankees World Series MVP, and decorated WWII and Korean War Marine Pilot. more...
Hollywood legend and WWII Navy veteran Ernest Borgnine will be honored for helping lead the National Spirit of '45 Day campaign and for his many years of supporting Amerca's veternas
General Chuck Yeager, recipient of the 2012 Spirit of '45 Individual Lifetime Achievment Award www.ChuckYeager.com
"Red Tails" star Cuba Gooding, Jr. with legendary Tuskegee Airman and Spirit of '45 National Spokesman Dr. Roscoe Brown during the New York Veterans Day Parade. 
San Diego Air and Space Museum in historic Balboa Park,is , host to this year's Spirit of '45 Awards and Celebration Dinner which headlines theis year's Conference on Saturday evening, February 18.
Our Conference theme is "Honor the Unsung Heroes" as we mobilize youth across America to help members of the WWII preserve their stories of a time when all America came together to meet historic challenges.
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There's still time to sign up to join Ernie Borgnine and General Chuck Yeager for an exciting weekend of sharing and networking as we begin the official countdown to National Spirit of '45 Day!
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Your $180 Conference Fee covers all these exciting activities:
Friday, February 17, 2012
Working Sessions (9 AM - 4:30 PM)
San Diego Veterans Museum and Memorial Center*
"How Museums, Historical Societies, Major League Baseball and Community Groups Are Keeping the Spirit of '45 Alive!"
Introductions and sharing of public events and observances by museums, historical societies, Honor Flight regional hubs, professional baseball and others that are setting the pace for National Spirit of '45 Day. We'll be developing best practices and introducing new resources that we all can use to make the most of this year's joint efforts to assure that this year's activities are even better than ever.
Luncheon hosted by San Diego Pearl Harbor Survivors Association
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM VIP Welcome Reception and special screening of George Lucas' "Red Tails" to honor the contributions of African Americans who served in WWII. Special guests to include members of the original Tuskegee Airmen, Montford Point Marines, and others. We will be inviting 125 teens to join us for the screening and to meet these WWII heroes for an evening of inspiring entertainment for all!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Working Sessions (9 AM - 4:00)
San Diego Hall of Champions in Balboa Park*
"How Spirit of '45 is providing opportunities for senior living communities and care providers to form partnerships with schools and youth leadership groups to work together on intergenerational projects"
9:00 AM - Noon Senior living communities, National History Day and Honor Flight will be sharing their ideas and experience regarding how to bring youth, Baby Boomers and the WWII generation together to deepen American's appreciation and understanding of our country's "finest hour" and how to revive that same Spirit across our nation today.
"Best practices and media and fundraising tools for making the most of Spirit of '45 events and activities in your community"
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Hear from the experts how you can make the most of Spirit of '45 in the coming year, including special activities planned for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and high profile national events on the weekend of August 11-12 as we take National Spirit of '45 Day to entirely new levels!
Special appearances by Jerry Coleman, "Voice of the San Diego Padres" and General Chuck Yeager
Spirit of '45 Awards and Celebration Dinner ** San Diego Air and Space Museum*
Presentation of 2012 Spirit of '45 Lifetime Achievement Award to General Chuck Yeager and "Arsenal of Democracy" Awards
6 PM - 9 PM The highlight of the weekend will be the gala Dinner that is being hosted by the prestigious San Diego Air and Space Museum. We will be honoring General Chuck Yeager with our first Spirit of '45 Individual Lifetime Achievement Award, and Hollywood icon Ernest Borgnine for role in creating the National Spirit of '45 Day 'movement.' General Yeager and Mr. Borgnine will present the first "Arsenal of Democracy" Awards to 6 companies that were cornerstones of America's WWII efforts and are continuing to assure the economic future of our country by reviving the Spirit of manufacturing industry in the U.S. Tables at the dinner are being dedicated to WWII heritage groups, each chaired by a true hero of WWII.
Tour of the Museum's award winning collection of WWII vintage and other historical aircraft.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Closing ceremonies, wreath laying, group photo, tour of U.S.S. Midway "Greatest Generations Walk," San Diego Harbor*
11:00 AM - Noon To bring closure to our historic weekend together, and to begin the countdown to Memorial Day and on to National Spirit of '45 Day in August, we will gather in "Greatest Generations Walk" in front of acclaimed artist Seward Johnson's 25 ft sculpture depicting the "Times Square Kiss" as we honor the sacrifices of the more than 400,000 Americans who died during WWII and the millions of members of the "Greatest Generation" who have passed away since the end of the war. Leading the ceremony will be Col. Dave Severance whose Marine platoon raised the flag over Mt. Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. The ceremony will conclude with a performance of "Taps" by youth and members of Bugles Across America as 50 white doves are released into the sky. You are invited to join Ernie for the afternoon on the fabulous U.S.S. Midway, as we bring to a close this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
* Group transportation provided daily to Conference events for attendees staying at The Sofia Hotel.
Conference participation is limited to 100 attendees,
so hurry to reserve your place now!
If you are only interested in attending the Dinner, you may purchase tickets on the San Diego Air and Space Museum web site.
Reserve your room TODAY at the Sofia Hotel
Call 800.826.0009 or 619.234.9200 and ask for special Spirit of '45 rates!
For more information, visit "Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive!"
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KEEP THE SPIRIT OF '45 ALIVE! is a non-profit, non-partisan initiative to preserve the legacy of the men and women of the Greatest Generation so that their example of courage, self-sacrifice, "can-do" attitude and commitment to community can help inspire a renewal of national unity in America at a time when our country once again must come together to meet historic challenges.
The goal of the KEEP SPIRIT OF '45 ALIVE! initiative is to establish an annual day of remembrance and national renewal to remind America of the values and accomplishments of the generation who endured the hard times of the Great Depression, fought to defeat the greatest tyranny in history, and then went on to rebuild their shattered world in an unprecedented effort to help assure a better future for both friend and former foe alike. About Spirit of '45
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| "Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive!" initiative is a public benefit project of the Digital Clubhouse Network, a 501(C)(3) public nonprofit organization. The DCN was formed in 1996 with a seed grant from NASA, and has received extensive media attention and recognition for its innovative programs that mobilize youth to use the power of digital technology to build a better 21st century community, including three medals from the Smithsonian Institution for pioneering ideas for enhancing public education, promoting public health, preserving community history and heritage and promoting greater cultural diversity. www.Digiclub.org |
