The Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center is honored to serve as a presenting sponsor, alongside Meijer, for the Greatest Generation Celebration Week, hosted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. This weeklong commemoration marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and pays tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the Greatest Generation.

Events will take place in multiple cities across Michigan, with Grand Rapids, the hometown of President Gerald R. Ford, serving as the center of the celebration. The week will feature parades, lectures, community gatherings, film screenings, and special ceremonies. The Air Zoo is especially proud to host a Victory Celebration! on Saturday, September 6, at its location in Kalamazoo.

“Few anniversaries in our shared history are as significant as the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II,” said Nikki Statler, Director of Marketing and Development at the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center. “The Greatest Generation secured a future of freedom, innovation, and hope for us all. The Air Zoo is incredibly proud to help bring these stories to life through a week of remembrance and to host the Victory Celebration, where together we will honor their legacy with gratitude and joy.”

Highlights of the Greatest Generation Celebration Week:

 

Honor Parade & Wings of Honor Flyover
Monday, September 1 (Labor Day) | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Downtown Grand Rapids
A parade featuring vintage vehicles, military equipment, veterans, Rosie the Riveters, and more, concluding with a flyover of WWII aircraft.


Bell Ringing Ceremony
Monday, September 1 | 8:08 PM
Throughout Grand Rapids
Bells across the city will toll at the exact moment WWII officially ended, 80 years ago.


Lecture Series: Perspectives on the Greatest Generation
September 2 – 4
Various Venues
Featuring world-renowned historians and authors including Rick Atkinson, Garrett Graff, Sir Antony Beevor, and Susan Eisenhower.
Free Admission (Registration Required for Some Events)


Convocation of Remembrance (Prayer Service)
Tuesday, September 2 | 6 PM
Saint Andrew’s Cathedral
All are welcome to this special evening of reflection.


Greatest Generation Night at the Whitecaps
Tuesday, September 2 | 6:35 PM
LMCU Ballpark


Cinematic Salute Film Festival
September 5 – 7
Studio Park, Downtown Grand Rapids
Free outdoor screenings of WWII-era classics including Flags of Our Fathers, The Great Dictator, The Great Escape, and Casablanca.


Victory Celebration! at the Air Zoo
Saturday, September 6 | 6 – 9 PM
Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center, Kalamazoo

$50 | $40 for Air Zoo Members

  • Keynote address by Guy Nasuti, historian with the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC)
  • Live swing music by Hark Up Horns Big Band and dancing with hangar doors wide open
  • WWII costume contest
  • Cocktails, cuisine, and camaraderie
  • Rare access to WWII aircraft cockpits and artifact displays

The Air Zoo will welcome guests for an unforgettable evening filled with energy, history, and gratitude. The event will feature:

Feel the energy. Relive the triumph. Honor the legacy.

Tickets are available at airzoo.org/victory.