Brookdale Community College’s Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution will host a 65th Anniversary Commemoration on Feb. 27. I will be providing a very special battle scene diorama to accompany Gilmon Brooks’ recollections of his Marine landing on Iwo Jima.
Gil served when the Marines were a segregated branch of the service and he was one of the few African-Americans at Iwo Jima.
Tom Mahoney will be coordinating a destroyer display of naval battles off of Okinawa. Tom is a Pearl Harbor survivor and will also show the U.S.S. Arizona relic that we have on display.
The displays will include Navy ships, landing craft, PT boats, aircraft and battleship carriers.
Come early to see the displays – around 11 a.m. would be ideal – before the 1 p.m. presentation begins. Bring your cameras. This is an ideal opportunity for kids to see history come alive and hear from the vets who were there.
I hope we pack the room with local families and vets at this free event. If you know of a group that would enjoy the event and might also need special accommodations, please let us know so we can best assist. The center’s telephone number is 732-224-2086.
Brian Boyce
Matawan