Bay Area locals are being invited by USS Hornet staff to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug. 30 aboard the aircraft carrier, where visitors will be reminded of the heroic stories of the past and the close partnership the United States had with its Chinese allies.
Docked in Alameda, the USS Hornet served several missions during WWII before converting into a public history museum. To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of war in the Pacific theater, it will serve as the venue for a celebratory event between 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., filled with activities such as panel discussions by historians and those with personal histories tied to WWII, music and dance, and a fashion show with over 48 dresses.
The museum’s chief experience officer Russell Moore spoke Wednesday about the importance of having community outreach events, such as the anniversary celebration, for the public.
“Sadly, most of the folks that were alive during World War II are gone, especially the soldiers. Places like the Hornet and some of these other museums have done everything they can to kind of capture and record this information, so we don’t lose it,” said Moore.
Moore said that the USS Hornet Sea, Air, and Space Museum wanted to make this milestone a big occasion, so they looked for different organizations to participate and bring in their perspectives.
A collaborative effort
The WWII Pacific War Memorial Hall, a historical center in San Francisco’s Chinatown, is one of the many partner organizations with the USS Hornet Museum. It is playing a large role in curating the day’s agenda and will be helping emphasize the cross-cultural ties between the U.S. and China during the war and the importance of collaboration today.
Betty Yuan, who is a part of the Board of Directors at the memorial hall, connected with USS Hornet staff to plan for the anniversary. She said that during a time when U.S.-China relations are tense, younger generations need to remember about the friendship and peace that used to exist and brought the countries together for the greater good.
“Chinese people and American people worked together very well,” said Yuan. “Peace is not that easy. We need to maintain the peace, but we have to work on it together.”
Jonathan Ginsberg with the Global Friendship City Association, an organization that works to remind people how interconnected people from different countries are, echoed Yuan’s comments on cooperation.
“Now, with the U.S.-China relationship in a contentious state, what is the point of having such an event? For many people, they do not know that the basis of the U.S.-China friendship is in military cooperation,” said Ginsburg. He said all of day’s events “can contribute to telling a colorful, beautiful and true story about the true foundation of the U.S.-China relationship, and perhaps it’s more important now than ever to know that story.”
The event is funded by ticket sales while volunteers offer their time to provide the programming.
“… For many people, they do not know that the basis of the U.S.-China friendship is in military cooperation.”
Jonathan Ginsburg, Global Friendship City Association
Visitors interested can purchase their tickets online. It will be $40 for adults, $25 for seniors and military personnel, $20 for students and children, and free for those under 6 years of age.
The World War II Pacific War Memorial Hall will be coordinating with free shuttles to transport people from across the Bay to the USS Hornet. Information will be posted to their website.
Attendees can also drive to the USS Hornet or take the nearby San Francisco Bay Ferry to the Alameda Seaplane Lagoon terminal, which is next to the museum.
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