Do you remember

rrich · 15th August 2021, 01:52 PM

Where you were today in 1945? Here V-J day is August 14. There it is August 15.

With my parents, I was at some sort of a hotel in Mattituck, Long Island, New York. Coincidently, August 14 was my fathers birthday. My father was deemed in an essential occupation as a New York City fireman. During the war the typical work week was as much as 80 hours and more based upon what the individual could endure. Overtime pay was an unknown for civil servants back then. Your official reward for the hours was that "You're here and not over there". This was his first vacation during the war.

I was born in 1942 and was a bit over 3 years old. Even so the hotel staff gave me a couple of glasses of wine that day. My mother said, "You're too young to drink" but just let it pass. We had spent most of the day at the hotel outdoor pool. People were delirious because the news was indicating that surrender was eminent. All day long the fire trucks were roaring up and down the streets and with every one that passed I would run to the chain link fence to watch it drive by.

My mother managed buy a cake that day and as I've been told the hotel managed to find some candles to put on it. After dinner the hotel brought the cake out and lit the candles. Almost the entire dining room staff stopped doing what they were doing to gather around and sang happy birthday. The diners in the dining room also joined in.

Amazing, here I am almost 80 and still remember the events from a personal perspective. Growing up my mother never wanted me to have anything to do with the armed services, police work or guns (toy or otherwise). It wasn't until 2007 and after watching the film by Ken Burns, "The War", that I understood my mother's feelings. She used to say that she was glad that my asthma would disqualify me from joining the military.

**China** · 15th August 2021, 02:41 PM

Where you were today in 1945? I was waiting for my mother and father to meet and get married, then have two daughters then me.

**Chesand** · 15th August 2021, 03:07 PM

I was in first grade at school in a class of 60 with Mrs Gardner as our teacher.
I remember the school being taken to the local reserve to celebrate the end of the war.
My father did not serve either - he was preparing to go when his work was declared an essential service/industry.

**Handyjack** · 15th August 2021, 08:08 PM

Long before I was born.
My father was a refugee in China, having escaped from Berlin, Germany in November 1938.

**yvan** · 16th August 2021, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Handyjack

Long before I was born.
My father was a refugee in China, having escaped from Berlin, Germany in November 1938.

This is most intriguing Handyjack! May I ask what the circumstances may have been for your father to travel East rather than finding a friendly country in Europe?

Yvan

**BobL** · 16th August 2021, 09:51 AM

While cleaning out MIL house after she passed away we found an old sailors cap with "VP" in large written on it in faded ink. Also written in ink on it were a number of names of MI'sL school mates some of which SWMBO recognised and several of them were still alive. SWMBO managed to track down a phone number for one that she knew and had a long chat with her about the cap. Turns out the school was given the 15th off so MIL along with a group friends went into the city to check out the celebrations and that's where they found the cap and decided all to sign it.

**woodhutt** · 16th August 2021, 03:08 PM

I wasn't even a twinkle back then. In fact, after having my brother in 1940, my mother was told she couldn't have any more kids. Then I popped up in 1950 much to everyone's surprise.

**elanjacobs** · 16th August 2021, 09:19 PM

My grandparents were still in school in 1945 lol

**woodhog** · 17th August 2021, 02:58 PM

I wasn't born yet either. I do remember the bicentennial 31 years later here in the USA

**woodhutt** · 19th August 2021, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by woodhog

I wasn't born yet either. I do remember the bicentennial 31 years later here in the USA

Yes! The champagne makers, Moet et Chandon brought out a special edition to celebrate the US bi-centennial. I got hold of a couple of bottles and myself and a young lady of my acquaintance spent a very interesting evening. She said she'd never known a drink like it for making your buttons come undone.
Ah, memories!
Pete

**nine fingers** · 19th August 2021, 11:42 AM

I was 9 years old, the Main Street in Camperdown Vic was crowded with people celebrating,
the kids were shouted Dixie cup ice creams by Regal products from Colac.
Can anyone remember a Dixie? John.

**Chesand** · 19th August 2021, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by nine fingers

I was 9 years old, the Main Street in Camperdown Vic was crowded with people celebrating,
the kids were shouted Dixie cup ice creams by Regal products from Colac.
Can anyone remember a Dixie? John.

Yes, John I am old enough to remember a Dixie ice cream - also wafers.

rrich · 19th August 2021, 03:51 PM

We used to get Dixie cups of ice cream in New York City and they gave you a wooden flat thing shaped like a spoon. I always preferred a cone because you got more ice cream and the quality seemed better.

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