By Bethany Sanderson/reporter
NW seniors spent a recent afternoon on a Walk Down Memory Lane and reminiscing about the World War II era.
Admission to the event included Spam or other canned food to be donated to the Community Food Bank in Saginaw.
A 1920s-1940s themed luncheon was served while the NW Mosaic Dance Project presented its interpretation of “Where Did Our Love Go?” and “Turn the Beat Around.”
The two pieces were choreographed by dance associate professor Amy Sleigh and directed by dance associate professor Lacreacia Sanders.
The room and tables were decorated with vintage posters, photos of wartime happenings, women with tiny waists, men with Brylcreemed hair and classic cars.
Master of ceremonies Dr. Steve Schoolar gave numerous tidbits of “back in the day” historic information such as “Remember when $20 could buy a week’s worth of groceries?” and “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.”
Dr. Gary Goodwin, NW vice president of continuing education, prepared a shadow box display including a military photo of his father.
The majority of the program was filled with a live performance of a 1920s-1940s musical review by the Taps ’n’ Tunes.
Classic vintage tunes of the 1920s like George Gershwin’s “Kicking the Clouds Away” and Cole Porter’s “Let’s Misbehave” were performed by the Taps ’n’ Tunes female senior dancers.
The Charleston review from Thoroughly Modern Millie brought back the era when girls moved their feet and shook their hips in flapper outfits and short hairdos.
Musical lyrics from The Boyfriend’s “I Could Be Happy with You” and an old vaudeville number brought the audience back to a time of attending speakeasies in their snazzy attire.
The Taps ’n’ Tunes dancers, dressed in overalls and bandanas, gave a nod to the Andrews Sisters, dancing to the 1943 song “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
Senior education member Filemon Garcia, 76, remembered his brother most in the 1940s.
“I was still a little wet behind the ears,” he said. “I didn’t know there was a war on then. We dropped my brother off. He was in his uniform.”
Leslie Schiefelbein, 63, remembered her parents-in-law were high school sweethearts, and he went off to war.
“They wrote letters and sent pictures back and forth,” she said. “You could see the love between them even through the separation. He would draw a heart in the sand with her name in it. Theirs has always been an enduring love since way back.”
“I’ve Got Rhythm,” one of Gershwin’s most familiar songs, was one of the concluding numbers performed by Carla White and music instructor Echo Wilson.
