The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center will be THE place to celebrate Veterans Day 2024 with a 1940s style USO Show & Dance to honor Southeast North Carolina veterans. The one night only event will be Friday, November 8, 2024. Tickets are $20, on sale at wilmingtoncommunityarts.org or 910-341-7860.

This very special evening is presented by AARP, VFW Post 2573, Southeast North Carolina Veterans Day Parade Committee, and Thalian Association Community Theatre to remember the men and women who served our country. Concessions including wine and beer will be available. All proceeds benefit the Historic USO Building Preservation Fund.

Relive the sounds of the 1940s, hit songs, famous performers, and unforgettable dances with an original USO Show, directed by Blake Carter with music direction by Aimee Henderson. The cast is filled with familiar faces from Main Stage Thalian Hall and Thalian Youth Theatre productions

The fun starts at 7:00 pm with a free swing dance lesson from Cape Fear Swing Dance Society. The USO Show will begin at 7:30 pm but dancing will continue nonstop until 10:00 pm. The USO Show will feature songs from the most famous vocalists of the 1940s with a special tribute to The Andrews Sisters, known as The Sweethearts of the Armed Forces Radio Service.

Selected items from the largest private collections of WWII memorabilia in Southeastern North Carolina will be on display in the lobby museum Friday November 8^th, from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, and Saturday November 9^th, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. The collections are curated by Cliff Tyndall, a recently retired history professor and historical consultant, and Morris Bass, WWII historian with the N. C. Dept. of Natural & Cultural Resources. The extensive collection includes uniforms, equipment, and weaponry, with a special table for items carried by soldiers during WWII in the Pacific & European Theatres.  The display will include a US Army Antiaircraft Artillery field HQ display featuring an original field desk, communication equipment (Telephone & radio) and assorted related WWII office equipment.  Tyndall’s 1943 US Army jeep will be parked outside the entrance to the Historic USO Building Friday night and Saturday, except when it will be featured in Saturday’s SENC Veterans Day parade.