THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507280311
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
On Aug. 15, 1945, Portsmouth residents celebrated the end of World War II.
To mark the 50th anniversary of V-J Day, the city will stage a two-day event, including an old-fashioned street dance, on the Downtown waterfront on Aug. 12-13.
The Victory Celebration Street Dance at 8 p.m. Aug. 12 will feature music of the 1940s by the Billy Morris Band.
Other Saturday activities will begin at 4 p.m.
World War II Re-enactors, dressed in authentic uniforms, will display equipment and artifacts. The Tidewater Region Antique Automobile Association of America will exhibit vintage vehicles and the Naval Shipyard's float of the USS Alabama will be on display.
The Red Coats will play World War II songs and military concert music at 6:30 p.m.
A demonstration of dances of the 1940s will be presented by the Tidewater Ballroom Dancers Association.
On Sunday, Aug. 13, the celebration will begin at 7:45 a.m. with a flag ceremony with veterans of World War II participating in a wreath-laying ritual.
At 8:30 a.m. area churches will participate in an interdenominational service coordinated by Ector Hamrick of Port Norfolk Baptist Church. The service will end at 9:15 a.m., when all Portsmouth churches have been asked to ring their bells for five minutes.
The weekend activities will conclude with a performance by the U.S. Continental Army Jazz Band at Portside at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. by CNB