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Arts & Entertainment

Home Front Theater: So Proudly We Hail

Step back into the 1940s with the classic World War II motion picture, So Proudly We Hail, depicting the struggles of U.S. Army nurses in the Pacific theater of WWII. It is the latest in this year’s Home Front Theater movie series at the El Dorado Senior Center, in the Bridge Room, located at 2800 Studebaker Road, Long Beach.

The monthly Home Front Theater movies are a series sponsored by Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske and the Long Beach Rosie The Riveter Foundation features a collection of classic World War II era films. The series, launched in May to commemorate Armed Services Day, honors the service and sacrifice of Americans at home and abroad.
“Long Beach is fortunate to be the home of the Veterans Administration Hospital and our community has a long tradition of nurses serving our military men and women,” commented Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, “This movie honors the impact women have had on the way we view the contributions of women in society, work, and to our country.”

Fresh and Easy will provide vegetable and fruit goodie bags for seniors attending the September movie, and CareMore will provide a spectacular dessert commemorating World War II service women. VIAL of L.I.F.E. kits are also available at each showing. VIAL of L.I.F.E., recently launched in Long Beach by Councilwoman Schipske, provides residents a simple, easy way to provide emergency first responders with their medical and prescription information.

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So Proudly We Hail is the story about a group of U.S. Army nurses leaves San Francisco for their tour of duty in Hawaii in December 1941. The attack on Pearl Harbor changes their destination, and their lives. Sent to Bataan, in the Philippines, the nurses are led by Lt. Janet Davidson. She is faced with untested nurses who expected an easy time in Honolulu, but who quickly become battle-weary veterans dealing with daily bombardments by the Japanese, overwhelmed by the numbers of wounded, and dwindling supplies. Some of "Davey's" unit also have to deal with romantic entanglements with men they met onboard ship. When Bataan falls, the American forces flee to the offshore island of Corregidor, where they find the Japanese assault just as intense.

The remainder of the 2012 Home Front Theater film series will feature Mrs. Miniver, on October 19th, The Philadelphia Story on November 16th, and White Christmas on December 14th.  All movies will begin at 1 pm. 
For more information on the Home Front Theater movie series, please call the Offices of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske at 562-570-6932.

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