- November 24, 2024
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To the tune of Count Basie’s “One O’clock Jump,” the dance floor of Robarts Arena came to life Saturday evening for the Goodwill Manasota Spirit of ‘45 Dinner.
A crowd of more than 500 included veterans and their guests who were in attendance to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII in 1945. The theme of the night was a welcome home party set in the 1940s complete with performances by swing dancers and the Sarasota Jazz Project.
Goodwill Manasota employees had fun with the theme dressing in chambray button down shirts with red bandana headbands.
Veterans of all services were welcomed to spend an evening reliving the memories of the day that Japan surrendered. Jean White served in the Navy between the years 1944 to 1945 in Washington D.C. on a research project with Northwestern University to improve the aim of guns on planes. She recalls where she was when the announcement was made that WWII was over.
“I was home on leave with my mom and dad so I didn’t get to celebrate,” White said. “We were happy the war was over. We were very sad that we had to drop the bomb and I still feel sad about it.”