Days of World War II to Be Relived at School

For today’s typical junior high school student, the Vietnam War years are ancient history. And Rosie the Riveter, the jitterbug, gasoline rationing and other realities of the 1940s seem even further removed from reality.

At Tuffree Middle School’s World War II Night tonight, however, students will be debating the Battle of the Bulge and dancing to swing tunes popularized by their grandparents.

Language arts teacher Liz Greenhill and social science instructors Jim Perry and Bill Melvin, with assistance from their students and community volunteers, are organizing the second annual commemoration.

“I can’t think of another event that unites the community like this,” said Perry, a Fullerton native who remembers the day his father shipped out in the 1940s to join the war effort.

Said World War II veteran Jim Patrick, who was setting up a display of wartime memorabilia Thursday morning, “The school and the kids do a tremendous job of re-creating the history of World War II.”

The 73-year-old Fullerton resident brought in a collection of American, British and German military uniforms and medals for the occasion.

A much younger collector, eighth-grader Lorence Liscano, is a music lover who will share his collection of 1940s records. The tunes will be played for a re-creation of a radio show of that era, with students singing standards made popular by Judy Garland, Kate Smith and Shirley Temple.

Liscano said he started collecting vintage music after hearing his grandfather’s stories of the war era.

“He pulled out all these old records, and I really got into it,” said Liscano, who particularly enjoys big band numbers.

Tonight’s event will also feature talks by combat veterans and by Leon Leyson, who survived the Holocaust by being included on the famous Schindler’s list.

Eighth-grader Amber McAllister said the stories of Holocaust victims made the deepest impression on her, especially poignant accounts of “the way they had to hide out.” The Nazis, she said, “treated them as if they weren’t people.”

World War II Night marks the culmination of a month of school activities, including a field trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles and group dance lessons.

“I taught every kid in the seventh grade how to do the swing,” Greenhill said.

Social sciences teacher Melvin, an “atomic veteran” who was exposed to a nuclear test blast in 1953, said the event helps to “create a living history” because parents and grandparents come forward with their stories.

World War II Night will be from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Tuffree, 2151 N. Kraemer Blvd. Admission is free. Information: (714) 996-1881.