Historian, Author's Quest to Collect 1 Million War Letters Makes Stop In
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Art Basel in Delray (7) New COO at DMC (17) What’s a budsie? (34) Plans for former Office Depot site in works (38) DELRAYNEWSPAPER.COM JANUARY | 2019 ‘Fashion Never Dies’ during 6th annual Delray Beach Fashion Week Staff report Runway looks, resort chic styles and trendy hairstyles will be on display in downtown Delray from Jan. 23-27 during the 6th annual Delray Beach Fashion Week. With a theme of “Fashion Never Dies” inspired by James Bond 007 will be woven throughout the event featuring fashion, local designers, entertainment and beauty. Diverse fashions will take center stage at the runway shows, fashion luncheon, in-store promotions and the Shop the Runway In-Stores Event throughout Downtown Delray. “Created by the Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown merchants, Delray Beach Fashion Week is an award-winning event which we are thrilled to produce once again,” said DDA Executive Director Laura Simon. “This special week is a unique, fun and all encompassing opportunity to share with our local residents and visitors Sharon Koskoff and Andrew Carroll look through postcard letters Koskoff’s dad wrote to his fiancé at the time during WWII. Photo courtesy of Matt the fashion and beauty that is found right here in Down- Sturgess 4th Avenue Photo. town Delray Beach.” In addition to the Downtown Delray Beach merchants, lo- Historian, author’s quest to collect 1 million cal fashion designer participants include: Amanda Perna – House of Perna and Neon Bohemians; Glavidia Alexis - Glavidia: by Glavidia Alexis and Glavidia Hair Studio; war letters makes stop in Delray Beach Kyle Groth – Whiskers Laces; Amanda Johnson – Amanda By: Marisa Herman Associate Editor him. Her grandfather survived the war Johnson Studio; Jully Ortega – The Sandy Shoppe; Bill De- and continued to serve in the Korea War. Bilzan – The DeBilzan Gallery; Arianne Brown - Ramona Linda Oxford never really wanted to Several Delray residents took their turns La Rue; Lizzie Lambert – Haystacks and read them. The letters her dad wrote to waiting to show Carroll their family’s let- “I never met him,” she said of her grand- Sam Delaney – Greenlines [CONT. PG 2] her mom before he left for war and while ters. Porter Beermann was visiting her father. But she named her son Montgom- he was overseas. But, she didn’t want to mom in California for Thanksgiving ery after him. throw them away either. when she found a letter her grandfather She donated the letter, which ends ask- James Montgomery Moore wrote from ing his parents for nuts and candy, to the So, when the Delray Beach resident France in 1944. found out New York Times best-selling cause, which has an overall goal of col- author, historian and war letter collector The West Point graduate was a captain in lecting 1 million letters in order to pre- Andrew Carroll was coming to the Del- WWII. She said he would send letters to serve war-related correspondences. ray Beach Historical Society, she brought his father’s office so his mother wouldn’t Carroll doesn’t come from a military the stacks of letters with her to donate to see what he was describing. His letters background nor did he study history. It his project “The Center for War Letters,” talk about capturing Germans and a time was a house fire that sparked his interest which honors veterans and active duty where he was under fire by two drunk in collecting war letters. When he was a troops by preserving their wartime cor- American soldiers who were ransacking sophomore in college, Delray Beach Fashion Week returns this month for the sixth year. respondences. a French town and began shooting at [CONT. PG 2] Photo courtesy of Downtown Development Authority. Your stay includes private beach club 2 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 2019 Historian, author’s quest to collect 1 million war letters makes stop in Delray Beach [FROM PG 1] his childhood home caught on fire. Everyone escaped unscathed, but the family heirlooms, letters and pictures did not survive the blaze. A cousin called to check in on the family. When Carroll explained they were all OK, but the letters and items were gone, the WWII veteran James Carroll Jordan sent a letter to Carroll. It was a letter he wrote to this wife while serving in the war. The letter dated April 21, 1945, explained what he saw while walk- ing through Buchenwald, a concentration camp. That letter piqued Carroll’s interest once he read it. And so did the remark he Porter Beermann shares a letter her grandfather wrote to his parents during Linda Oxford holds a bundle of letters written during WWII and mailed to Delray cousin made about the letter. WWII with Andrew Carroll. Staff photo. Beach. Photo courtesy of Matt Sturgess 4th Avenue Photo. He told Carroll to keep it because he “proba- newspaper, the P.O. Box he purchased for He has turned the letters into several New bly would have thrown it out anyway.” people to submit letters to was inundated. York Times bestsellers, including War Let- ters, Letters of a Nation, and Behind the It was that moment that Carroll thought Since then, he has teamed up with Chap- Lines. War Letters inspired the critically how many letters like this one are sitting man University and the project has changed acclaimed PBS documentary of the same in peoples’ garages, attics and in boxes just names to the “Center for American War Let- name. The audio version of the book was covering dust, or worse being tossed in the ters.” Carroll serves as the Center’s Founding nominated for a Grammy in the “Spoken trash. Director. Word” category. So in 1998, he launched what was then called He estimates they have more than 150,000 During his Delray visit, he received a dona- in the collection. “The Legacy Project” to encourage people to unpublished letters in the collection. tion he had never seen before, colorful post- save their letters. card letters. Sharon Koskoff donated hun- The second day of his trip to Delray fea- He then wrote to advice columnist Abigail He has traveled to all 50 states and 40 coun- dreds of the postcards her father wrote to his tured his “Behind the Line” presentation Van Buren better known as Dear Abby ask- tries seeking out letters from the American then fiancé, who was not her mother. The of some of the letters and their stories. ing her to share his cause with her audience. Revolution up to the wars in Iraq and Af- postcards were saved even though the rela- The lecture was made possible with help Several days after her piece appeared in the ghanistan. tionship failed. Now, they will be preserved from the Delray Beach [CONT. PG 49] ‘Fashion Never Dies’ during 6th annual Delray Beach Fashion Week [FROM PG 1] Events will take place throughout Down- Fashion Show town Delray Beach and two of the runway fashion shows are free to the public to stand and watch. Location: CHE!!! Restaurant, 900 E Atlantic Ave. If you choose to splurge with a VIP Pass for $150, you will re- 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.: Luncheon, resort wear fashion show, si- ceive a reserved seat at all runways shows and the luncheon, a lent auction One Year VIP iPic Theater membership, a VIP Lanyard, entry Recommended attire: Resort Wear to VIP Receptions and a special edition of the 2019 Fashion Week Amanda Perna SWAG Bag. Runway show reserved Tickets: $50 per person includes lunch and the fashion show seat tickets and other event tickets range from $25-$50. All - benefiting the Achievement Centers for Children and Fam- ticket proceeds benefit the Achievement Centers for Children ilies and Families. Jan. 26: “License to Swim” Swim and Surf Show There is a “Chance to Win” Downtown Delray Beach Package Delray Beach Fashion Week returns this month with a swimwear Location: Old School Square Park, NE 2nd Ave. valued at $500 which also benefits the Achievement Centers show. Photo courtesy of Downtown Development Authority. for Children & Families. Receive one “Chance” with each VIP Recommended attire: Cocktail Attire 7-10 p.m.: Music, beach games, & vendor tables followed by Pass or runway seating ticket purchased. Additional Chanc- runway fashion show, chance to win drawing, thank you cer- es to Win will be available at each runway show for $5 per Tickets: $30 per seat for runway show reserved seating - ben- chance or $10 for three chances. efiting the Achievement Centers for Children and Families, emony and final walk. free to stand and watch. 2019 Delray Beach Fashion Week highlights Emcees: Lindsey Swing and Lilly Robbins of LL Scene Jan. 24: “For Your Eyes Only” Shop the Runway In-Store Recommended attire: Tropical Jan. 23: “Fashion Royale” Evening Wear & Designer Fashion Events throughout Downtown Delray Tickets: $25 per seat for runway show reserved seating – ben- Location: Atlantic Avenue in front of The Colony Hotel, 525 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Shop the Runway In-Store Events through- E. Atlantic Ave. efiting the Achievement Centers for Children and Families, out Downtown Delray. Purchase a Passport and receive tick- free to stand and watch. 7-10 p.m.: Ticketed runway seating, Live performance by ets for chances to win great prizes as you make purchases in Edge Effect – an a cappella group, Red Carpet with Step & stores throughout Downtown. Sunday, Jan. 27 Repeat, Downtown Merchant Tent, Beauty Bar and more. Tickets: $25 per person includes Passport, swag bag with in- Trunk Shows and Shopping throughout Downtown. 8 p.m. SHOW: Evening Wear & Designer Fashions Runway store discounts & promotions, and complimentary transpor- For more information, event details, and to purchase tickets in Show tation throughout Downtown - benefiting the Achievement Centers for Children and Families.