Press Released on August 2, 2016

WWII Generation honored on NATIONAL SPIRIT OF ’45 DAY ~ BRING YOUR PHOTO to Willamette National Cemetery, Aug 14

Oregon Senators and US Navy representatives will recognize the “Greatest Generation’ and commemorate the upcoming 75th Anniversary of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack ~ Bring your WWII hero’s military photo to this Aug 14,11 AM Event

PORTLAND:  Join us for Spirit of ’45 Day at the amphitheater at Willamette National Cemetery on Sunday, August 14 at 11 am for a ceremony of honor, gratitude and remembrance to recognize the incredible contributions of the World War II generation.

Spirit of ’45 Day, the 2nd Sunday of every August (this year Victory in Japan ‘V-J’ Day), is keeping the Spirit of ’45 Alive to honor the 16.1 million Americans who defended our freedom 1941-1945.

This year, the Spirit of ’45 commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and honors those WWII service members of the US Navy, Marines, Merchant Marines and Coast Guard, specifically those who fought and lost their lives in the December 7,1941 attack.  When you arrive at the Cemetery site, you will ‘REMEMBER AND BE INSPIRED’ by the Wall of Honor — ‘their faces’ — of these brave men and women surrounding the podium and displayed in the amphitheater.

Special presentations from US Senator Merkley’s Office and the US Navy will honor Pearl Harbor survivor Ed Johann and the youngest WWII sailor to receive a Medal of Honor, Robert E. Bush.

* Ed Johann, at age 17, rescued men on the USS Arizona on 7 December 1941 and later received the Navy commendation medal with valor for his heroic efforts.  Ed, 93 years young. lives on the Oregon coast and is expected to be joined this weekend by his great grandson, one-year active duty Marine Lance Corporal Benjamin Jennings stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA.

* Robert E Bush, at the age of 18, is the Navy’s youngest sailor to receive the Medal of Honor.  He was awarded his medal of honor by President Truman for his gallantry and intrepidity in Okinawa on May 2, 1945 –putting the life of his fellow officer before his own.  Tom Brokaw dedicates a chapter to Robert in his book, “The Greatest Generation.”  Bush will be represented by his only daughter, Susan Ehle.

US Navy Sea Cadets and Civil Air Patrol will participate.  The ceremony will include full military honors, color guard, patriotic music, the traditional salute of 21 guns and taps to recognize the contributions made by the “Greatest Generation.’  Attendance is expected to exceed 1,000.  The ceremony will be held in the Assembly Area near the flagpole and the Pearl Harbor Memorial.  All military branches will be honored for the 16 million Americans who served (152,000 Oregonians) and nearly 500,000 (7,200 Oregonians) who lost their lives.
HELP US BUILD THE ‘WWII WALL OF HONOR — FACES OF HEROES.’  Oregon Spirit of ’45 enlists all families, friends and communities to bring your WWII hero’s military photo to our August 14 event to honor the men and women of the WWII generation–all service branches from any state welcome.  Your hero’s service branch, hometown and other optional data will be helpful for our volunteers ready to add your photo to our ‘wall.’ You can also UPLOAD your photo and information to www.orspiritof45.org.

In 2020, during the WWII 75th Anniversary Spirit of ’45 Commemorative Week of Aug 9-15, America will honor the achievements and virtues of men and women of this incredible generation by displaying a Wall of Honor banner of their photos collected by all states–stretching the 2-mile-long mall from The Nation’s Capital steps to the Lincoln Memorial, and back to the reflecting pool of the National World War II Memorial.
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The Oregon Spirit of ’45, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to commemorating the achievements and virtues of the World War II generation, on the 2nd Sunday of every August, so as to inspire future generations.

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. Its goal 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.