The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be commemorated at The Lamp Theatre in Irwin on Sept. 21 with newsreels from World War II, Jeeps such as the ones used during the war, historical artifacts and military displays.
The free GI Canteen for a Day program from 1 to 5 p.m. at 222 Main St. also will feature reenactors in military uniform.
The program will begin with an opening ceremony with the honor guard from the J. Howard Snyder Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 781 of North Huntingdon. For veterans attending the event, there will be free coffee and doughnuts, until supplies last, in the Lamp Theatre “Canteen.”
There will be information from area veterans organizations, including the Westmoreland County VA Primary Care Clinic in Hempfield, Armbrust Veterans Association, the state Department of Veterans Affairs, the White Oak Vet Center for the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department and a mobile veterans center.
The organizer of the event, Tom Steiner, a Vietnam War-era Navy veteran, said he got the idea during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion at Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. Steiner said his father and father-in-law had served in the Pacific Theater during the war and thought it would be good to have an event to commemorate the surrender of Japan, which occurred Sept. 2, 1945.
“I never wanted veterans to feel forgotten, or for people to forget the sacrifices made by all veterans in all wars, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and did not return to their families,” said Steiner, who said he has been involved in veterans affairs and programs for 50 years.
After the GI Canteen for a Day closes at 5 p.m., the theater doors will close and reopen at 6 p.m. for a fundraising tribute concert, “My Country, My Home,” featuring Gary Pratt, Kim Szallar and the Pratt-Szallar Band at 7 p.m. Tickets for the concert are $20 for veterans and $25 for general admission.
The proceeds will benefit Operation Vets Now, the American Legion Post 359 of Irwin and J. Howard Snyder Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 381 of North Huntingdon.
For ticket information, contact the Lamp Theatre box office at 724-367-4000 or visit lamptheatre.org.
