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To Mark 70th Anniversary Of World War II’s End, 'Victory Florida' Campaign Launched

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
"Me and the Gunners," 1943

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. And, the Florida Department of State is commemorating the end of the war effort this week with a campaign called “Victory Florida.”

Agency spokeswoman Katie Kole says Victory Florida week runs through Sunday.

“And, Victory Florida honors and celebrates the heroes and heroines of World War II, while also educating Floridians about the important role that Florida played both in training for the battlefront and on the home front during the war,” said Kole.

Kole says more than 248,000 Floridians volunteered or were drafted into the military—with 4,600 losing their lives while serving during World War II.

“And today, Florida is home to close to 100,000 World War II veterans, and that’s higher than any other state,” she added. “And, so the Department of State in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, we felt that there was no better time than now to honor these veterans that served our country.”

She says all week long there are events and exhibits happening all across the state in museums, parks, and libraries to commemorate the week.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.