Remembering the "Spirit of '45"

NORFOLK (Aug. 17, 2015) (NNS) -- The Hampton Roads Naval Museum hosted a wreath-laying ceremony Aug. 15 in remembrance of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The ceremony was part of the "Spirit of '45" commemoration, enacted by Congress in 2010 to honor the brave men and women who served during World War II.

"Our museum is part of the Virginia World War II Heritage Alliance," said Susanne Greene, Hampton Roads Naval Museum public information officer. "Six different museums participated across the commonwealth, and today's ceremony honored those who sacrificed, not only their lives, but their time to keep America safe and preserve our freedom."

Lee Duckworth, the museum's director of education, encourages others to preserve the memory of such historical events.

"It's important to remind people of what occurred," said Duckworth, former commanding officer, Naval Air Station Norfolk. "When you look at the wars in Korea or Vietnam, they were localized to small portions of the world. When we say this was a world war, it really was; from Europe all the way to the Pacific. We must remember how significant the war was and how many people, not just Americans, sacrificed their lives."

Though many people today are too young to have been affected by the war, retired Diesel Engineman 2nd Class Dean Loomis recalls news of the cease fire from his childhood.

"I can remember just sitting on the front porch swing when we heard the news that the war was over," said Loomis. "It was a feeling of relief to know that my dad would soon be discharged and coming home."

Representatives from the Hampton Roads Naval Museum intend to celebrate the "Spirit of '45" annually and honor the brave men and women who served and fought for their country.

For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element, East, visit www.navy.mil/local/pacennorfolk/.