GPC Educational Symposium Highlights Legacy of World War II

Dr. Thomas Graham is on a mission to honor World War II veterans. The history professor and former U.S. Naval officer has been inspired to organize a week long educational symposium  Nov. 7 to 10, followed by a USO-style Stage Door Canteen and Dance on Nov. 11.

Graham teaches his students how what happened during World War II still affects their lives today, because of the service and sacrifice of the men and women who served almost 70 years ago.

“We recognize that the number of World War II veterans is rapidly decreasing,” Graham said, in a GPC press release. “This generation needs to know about them, they need to know how close the world came to being crushed by the Axis powers. Most World War II veterans don’t see themselves as heroes—they say, the ones that died, they were the heroes,” says Graham.

The free symposium will take an interdisciplinary look at World War II presented through a series of talks and panels—from the literature of the time, to the mathematical precision of the codes created to stymie the enemy, to the scientific breakthroughs of the period.

The talks will feature community members who are World War II veterans themselves, including members of the Tuskegee Airmen, and other World War II “flyboys,” as well as talks by those who grew up in Europe, Germany and China during the war.

Moderated by GPC faculty, panel topics include “Children of the War,” “Jewish-German Roundtable,” “Economics and the War” and “Math and the War—Ciphers and Codes.” The films “Inglorious Basterds,” “Saving Private Ryan,”  “The Big Red One” and “The King’s Speech.” The films are part of the week-long educational event and open to the public.

The panels dates and times are listed below. All symposium events will be on the GPC Dunwoody Campus , Building NC, Room 1100, and are  free and open to the public..  The 1940s  Stage Door Dinner and Dance is a fundraiser for GPC’s Military Outreach Initiative, and will be held on the college’s Clarkston Campus gymnasium Friday, Nov. 11 on Veteran’s Day. For information about the dance call 678-891-2550, or go to www.giving.gpc.edu

WWII Symposium Week

Monday, Nov. 7

10 am. to 11:15 a.m.       “The War in the Pacific—War  without Mercy”

11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.       “Children of the War”

1 p.m. to 2:15pm                         Jewish-German Roundtable

2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.                      Film, “Inglourious Basterds”

Tuesday, Nov. 8

10 a.m. to  11:15 a.m.                  “Economics and War”

11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.              WWII Veterans Tell Their Stories: Four Veterans talk about their experiences during World War II

1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.                        Math and the War—ciphers, etc.

2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.                           Film, “Saving Private Ryan”

Wednesday, Nov. 9

10 a.m. to 11:15am                         Literature of WWII

11:30 to 12:45pm                           How WWII Impacted Scientific Discoveries

1 p.m. to 2:15pm                            WWII’s Sociological Impact on American Society

2:30pm to 5 p.m.                             Film, “Big Red One”

Thursday, Nov. 10

10 a.m. to 11:15am                       Labor Problems in Wartime

11:30 a.m. to 12:45pm                  Fly Boys of WWII

1 p.m. to 2:15pm                           Great Speeches of WWII

2:30pm  to 5 p.m.                          Film, “The King’s Speech”