Brookfield Historical Society Presents WWII Program

BROOKFIELD, CT-- The Brookfield Historical Society is hosting a power point presentation on the WWII Battle of Tarawa in the Pacific Theater in late November 1943. The presentation will take place at the Brookfield Museum, 165 Whisconier Road in Brookfield Center.

Dr. Gerard Brooker of Bethel, will show photographs he took on the island of the major battle sites, including Red Beach 2, a major Marine landing area and Japanese defenses and pill boxes. He will also share about his experience during a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee where he delivered a eulogy honoring Marine 1st Lieut. Alexander Bonnyman, a Medal of Honor recipient, who was killed on Tarawa.

Brooker has spent his life as an educator and organizer of humanitarian programs. He has been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame and has published 4 novels including A gathering of Doves and over 350 articles and poems, mostly about social issues.

Dr. Brooker received an Award for Outstanding Humanitarian Service from Iona College in 1998, and was also the recipient of the Mahatma Gandhi-Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Award, in 1997. In 2007 he was bestowed the recognition as an Honorary Iwo Jima Marine by the government of Guam.

The program is on Monday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. It is a free event and complimentary refreshments will be available.