THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200053
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
SEVERAL HUNDRED of the estimated 183,000 Americans left fatherless by World War II will gather in Washington, D.C., Nov. 10-11 to honor the sacrifice their fathers made 50 years ago. The event, planned by the American World War II Orphan's Network, will include a memorial service to be held at Washington National Cathedral on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11. All are welcome to attend.
The network was founded in 1991 by Ann Bennett Mix, whose father, Sydney Bennett, was killed in action in April 1945. Mix says, ``We grew up determined to be proud of our father's sacrifice. We lived through World War II, Korea and fought in Vietnam. Now we are ready to share and acknowledge the reality of what happened.''
The network's goals are to assist individuals in locating information about their fathers' military service and to establish a data base of survivors, putting them in touch with one another through meetings, newsletters and an on-line computer network.
The two-day event will feature a dinner Nov. 10 at the Sheraton Washington Hotel for members and their spouses. At the dinner, Mix will announce the establishment of the American WWII Orphans Foundation. Recognizing that WWII left more dead on foreign soil than any other conflict in history, the foundation plans to provide special assistance for those who have not had the opportunity to visit their fathers' overseas graves.
The Nov. 11 memorial service for the families of those killed and missing in the war will be held in St. Joseph Chapel at Washington National Cathedral.
The service will begin with two minutes of silent remembrance and will include a roll call of the names of family members who made the ultimate wartime sacrifice. Anyone interested in adding a name to the roll call should arrive at the chapel by 10:30 a.m.
Those interested in attending the Nov. 10 dinner should send a check for $35 per person payable to AWWIION to Ann Mix at P.O. Box 4369, Bellingham, Wash. 98227. Mix may be reached for further information by calling 206-733-1678.
KEYWORDS: WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL by CNB