WILMINGTON — The Hannah Block Historic USO and Community Arts Center will take a retro approach to celebrating the nation’s military personnel in honor of Veteran’s Day.
Though the actual holiday is Nov. 11, a USO Show and Dance to honor southeastern North Carolina veterans will take place on Friday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. There will be swing dance lessons from the Cape Fear Swing Dance Society and dancing will continue until 10 p.m.
However, at 7:30 p.m. the USO show begins, directed by Blake Carter with music direction by Aimee Henderson. It will feature local actors performing songs from the most famous vocalists of the 1940s and a special tribute to The Andrews Sisters. The group were dubbed “The Sweethearts of the Armed Forces Radio Service.”
Concessions including wine and beer will be available, courtesy of Windham Distributing Company and Wilmington Brewing Company. All proceeds benefit the Historic USO Building Preservation Fund.
There also will be items from the largest private collections of WWII memorabilia in region and state on display in the lobby museum on Friday, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. It includes uniforms, equipment, weaponry, and more, curated by Cliff Tyndall, a recently retired history professor and historical consultant, and Morris Bass, WWII historian with the N. C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. Tyndall’s 1943 US Army jeep will be parked outside the entrance to the Historic USO Building Friday night and Saturday, and will be featured in Saturday’s SENC Veterans Day parade.
Mike Caulder, recently retired WFD Captain, will be setting up a display of WWII field kitchen gear, including an M1937 field stove. On display also will be original manuals, cookware-pots and pans and utensils. Caulder’s grandfather was a cook with the 30 Infantry Div. during WWII and this will be the public debut of his field kitchen collection.
Tickets to the show are $20, on sale at wilmingtoncommunityarts.org or by calling 910-341-7860.
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