Schipske Keeps Promise
to WWII Icon to
Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive
in Long Beach!
July 21, 2011
– In 2008, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske made a promise to Edith Shain that she
would do what she could to make certain that the City of Long Beach celebrated
National Spirit of ’45 Day.
On August 14,
Schipske keeps her promise by sponsoring “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive Day” at the El Dorado Senior Center, 2800
N. Studebaker.
Shain was a
nurse working at Doctors Hospital in New York on
August 15, 1945—the day Japan surrendered during World War II. Shain says she rushed
into the streets of Times Square to join in the impromptu celebration that
followed the news. Shain is the nurse being passionately embraced by a sailor
in a photo shot by famed photographer Alfred
Eisenstaedt on that day.
“I met Edith when she came to the Queen Mary in 2008 to campaign
for a permanent annual day that would ensure that her generation’s achievements
could inspire a new generation of ordinary heroes to come together to face the
complex issues and challenges America is struggling with today,” explains
Schipske who has led the efforts to establish the Rosie the Riveter Park and
Interpretive Center.
“She was excited to hear what we were doing in Long Beach
and I promised that we would include ‘spirit of ‘45’ in our efforts.”
In 2010, Congress designated the second
Sunday in August as “Spirit of ’45 Day” to commemorate the end of WWII on
August 14, 1945 and many communities across the U.S. are holding ceremonies and
events to mark this historic time. http://www.spiritof45.org/site/
Edith Shain passed away in June 2010.
The City of Long Beach events will include
the placing of a memorial wreath at the military memorial in Rosie the Riveter
Park and Interpretive Center located at Conant Street and Clark Avenue on
Saturday, August 14, followed by a 4:30
pm – 7 pm, 1940s Swing Dance and special appearance by Pres. Franklin D.
Roosevelt at the El Dorado Community Center, 2800 N. Studebaker.
Music is provided by Johnny Kleker and the
Big Band. Light refreshments will be provided. Suggested donation at the door:
$10 for those born after 1945. Proceeds will go to the non-profit Long Beach
Rosie the Riveter Foundation.
