The end of World War II brought relief and joy, but it was also a bittersweet time as survirors remembered fallen family members, friends and classmates at the UW.
The University will mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II on Friday, Aug. 12, when the 91探花Alumni Association holds 鈥淲orld War II: A Day of Celebration,鈥� a daylong event that both celebrates the end of the war and remembers those from the 91探花 who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The highlight of the event is a luncheon featuring a keynote address by Thomas S. Foley, 鈥�51, 鈥�57, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
The event begins with a 9:30 a.m. memorial ceremony at the main flagpole on the 91探花campus. The ceremony, which is open and free to the public, will be held at the UW鈥檚 World War II memorial, 鈥淚nterrupted Journey,鈥� at the end of Memorial Drive.
The memorial will be led by Brewster Denny, 鈥�45, dean emeritus of the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, and will feature a U.S. Armed Forces Color Guard. Captain Kim Burke (U.S. Navy, Ret.) will give the invocation and 91探花student Jose Rubio will sing 鈥淭he Star Spangled Banner.鈥� The color guard will play Echo Taps to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the war.
At 10:30 a.m., a concert will be held in the Husky Union Building (HUB) Auditorium. A faculty-student band led by 91探花Music Professor Vern Sielert will perform World War II-era music and provide oral historical context for the musical selections.
Following the concert, a social gathering is set for 11:30 a.m. in the HUB East Ballroom, followed by the luncheon featuring a speech by Foley. Cost of the luncheon is $35 for 91探花Alumni Association members and $45 for non-members. You must register for the lunch at .
Foley, who earned two degrees from the 91探花, was named the UW鈥檚 Alumnus of the Year in 1992. He spent 15 terms in Congress as the U.S. representative from Washington鈥檚 fifth congressional district and was Speaker of the House from 1989 to 1994. He lost his bid for re-election in 1994 but in 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed Foley as ambassador to Japan. He served in that post until 2001.
Following lunch, a reception will be held at the UW鈥檚 ROTC Headquarters in Clark Hall. This reception is open and free to the public.
The memorial service, concert and ROTC reception are free but advance registration is required at .
The 91探花was greatly affected by World War II. Many students and faculty went off to fight and in several cases, graduation ceremonies were pushed months ahead of schedule so young men could receive their diplomas and then be sent overseas.
Nearly 600 91探花students, alumni, staff and faculty lost their lives during World War II. Most of their names are inscribed on a plaque at 鈥淚nterrupted Journey,鈥� the memorial that honors the faculty, staff and students who never returned to the 91探花from the battlefields of World War II.
Denny, the dean emeritus of the Evans School of Public Affairs, and many fellow wartime classmates joined forces in the mid-1990s to plan the World War II memorial. Jon Gierlich designed the memorial.
The commemorative sculpture uses 鈥渞ings of memory鈥� to symbolize the transition from peace to war and finally to peace again. Gierlich, who teaches at Cornish College of the Arts, designed the piece so that rings of stonework surround the flagpole that is located at the south end of Memorial Way on the 91探花campus. The rings are set up in a way that both allow and encourage viewers to enter the piece, making them an active part of the tribute. The memorial was dedicated in 2001.
For more information or to register for the Day of Celebration, go to .