"Pin-Ups Calendar Girl" Plans to Attend Premiere of The Americans on D-Day Film April 27th In Hollywood
Veterans of American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood, will enjoy some nostalgia of Gina Elise, who has been nicknamed "The Calendar Angel" for her volunteer work
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 13, 2009 -- During World War II pin-up calendars boosted moral of U.S. Soldiers fighting overseas, and that spirit comes alive again with the California's "Calendar Angel" Gina Elise on Monday, April 27, 2009. That's when the American Legion, post # 43 will show the battle tour film Americans on D-Day.
Elise will join, surviving American Legion veterans of D-Day in Normandy, Richard Lanni, Film Director, The Americans on D-Day and film Host Ellwood von Seibold. One of the stars of the battle tour film Howard Manoian, a veteran of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne will attend the event. He landed in Normandy on D-Day and returned many years later to live in the country that he helped liberate.
Gina Elise, nicknamed "The Betty Grable of a new generation" and "The Calendar Angel" will be selling her T-Shirts and Calendars at American Legion Hall event. Elise, who has donated $20,000 to aid veteran hospital patients has received numerous community awards for her volunteer work. " I want to raise $20,000 for veterans this year," said Elise, who has made countless personal visits to ill and injured veterans in hospitals and facilities across the country. Elise was featured on Fox News last January.
"I now truly believe, three years after launching this project, that one calendar, included with a special message, purchased for a young recruit, can make all the difference in the world," she said. "Just to let him know that others are thinking of him."
Film Director Richard Lanni has also trekked across the country meeting with military dignitaries, museum officials and veterans of World War II about Normandy. He's researching D-Day and interviewing veterans in a series of films on Normandy. The next film will be "A Soldier's Journey" to be released around Memorial Day.
"It is the 65th Anniversary of D-day," said Lanni, WW2 Reflections, Dublin, Ireland, who arrives in Hollywood this week. "We have filmed interviews with surviving veterans of Normandy that will be showcased in Hollywood later this month to relive those days. I am here to meet more veterans and visit museums so our films will be accurate."
The first film premieres Monday, April 27th, 7:00 p.m. (PDT), (Cocktails 6:00 - 7:00 pm), at the American Legion Post #43, 2035 N Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA. 90068. The film is available for any American Legion Post or veteran organizations upon request and will be shown for free. Veterans need to RSVP with the American Legion.
WW2-Reflections' first tour film for its parent company, Labyrinth Media & Publishing Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland, specializes in WW II battlefield tour DVDS for the U.S. Market. The film goes on sale later this month at the official website: www.TheAmericansOnDDay.com.
"We are thrilled to have the chance to recognize American Heroes of D-Day this year, on the 65th Anniversary of Normandy, and what better place to do it than at the historical American Legion Post 43 building," said Lanni, WW2-Reflections.
The Americans on D-Day makes extensive use of smart graphics and veterans' recollections, as well as invaluable assistance from Dale Dye, a retired U.S. Marine captain who founded Warriors Inc., Los Angeles, which specializes in training actors for war-themed film and television productions. "'The Americans on D-Day" provides an exciting insight into one of the most pivotal events of the 20th century," Dye said. "I'm really proud to have a hand in this effort to provide a foxhole-level view of what happened in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
"I've seen a lot of tour videos that purport to give viewers an insight into what gallant Americans endured and accomplished on D-Day, but this one really hits the mark," Dye said.
"When we flew over the English Channel, there were a million ships in the water, and I have yet to meet any of those guys who were on those ships," said 85-year old retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Morton (Mort) Schecter, Northridge, CA, who flew as a United States Army Air Corps tail gunner in a B-24 Liberator warplane, the most produced U.S. military aircraft during World War II. He was assigned to the 467th Bomb Crew and 791st Bomb Squadron in England. "I'm lucky to still be here," he said.
Schecter, who flew 35 missions out of England, is amongst the American Veteran heroes, who flew on D-Day June 6, 1941. Schecter and his son also plan to attend the premiere showing of The Americans on D-Day.
"We were never shot down, but we did crash-land with six 1,000 pound bombs on board. We flew the first mission on D-Day and bombed at 3:30 in the morning, and it was the easiest mission, because we never saw any fighters or opposition. Then on June 8th, two days later, we went to Germany, we couldn't drop our bombs due to a malfunction. When we aborted the mission, we returned, but the plane landed on its belly in the field after the landing gear struts broke. We landed with the bombs onboard, which did not go off. So I'm still here, he said."
Schecter said he had an angel on his shoulder that day, and still has his list of the missions he flew. "Actor Jimmy Stewart was in our division, and he flew 28 missions. He entered the service as a buck private and when he died he was a General," he said.
Veterans who would like to RSVP to the event on April 27, 2009 need to call 323-851-3030 and leave your name, your city and phone number. Media must RSVP with MAYO 818-340-5300.
Editor's note: EPK DVD with extras like uniforms and weapons used are available upon request. To obtain a preview copy contact Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade, call 818-340-5300, or email: Publicity (at) mayocommunications (dot) com or visit: www.mayocommunications.com.
Press Clips are available at: www.TheAmericansOnDDay.com
http://www.ww2-reflections.com/the-americans-on-d-day-press.html)
For more about Gina Elise visit: www.PinUpsForVets.com or contact PinUpsForVets (at) aol (dot) com.
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