Attraction Seeking Veterans or Family Members to Share Stories and Written Letters from World War II as Part of Legends & Legacies Symposium Panel

POLK CITY, Fla. (Aug. 21, 2012) – While it’s easy to take for granted today’s many convenient and instantaneous forms of communication like text messages and Skype, those fighting overseas in World War II were limited to written letters that could take weeks to arrive to their intended destinations with loved ones thousands of miles away.

At the sixth and final installment of its 2012 Legends & Legacies Symposium Series- “Letters Home: Love, Courage & Survival” on Friday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 13, Fantasy of Flight will honor the art of letter writing and share incredible stories of wartime bonds preserved by pen and paper.

Soldiers relied on correspondence from their sweethearts and families to keep up with news from home and boost their spirits. In turn, wives, girlfriends, parents and children relied on the postman to deliver cherished letters from the warfront to tell them that their soldier was still alive and well. Many times, the letters bound together high school sweethearts waiting to be reunited after the war. In some cases, a soldier met his true love on foreign soil, only to be separated again when his company shipped out. Whatever the case, this cherished correspondence eloquently spelled out the hopes, dreams and prayers of the servicemen and their families, so much so that many of them have been preserved to this day as family keepsakes.

Fantasy of Flight is searching for people to share their letters with guests during this symposium. Writers or recipients of letters including servicemen and women, family and friends are invited to share their wartime experiences through written correspondence. Please do not send original letters. Copies can be mailed to 1400 Broadway Blvd. SE, Polk City, FL 33868. Scanned copies can be emailed to info@fantasyofflight.com and please put “Letters from Home” in the subject line.

“Each and every time veterans gather at our Legends & Legacies series to share their wartime experiences, it is incredibly moving and inspirational, but the ‘Letters Home’ event promises to truly tug on the heart strings,” said Kim Long, General Manager of Fantasy of Flight. “This symposium, perhaps more than any other, really shows how much times have changed since World War II, and sadly, how hand-written communication, particularly the love letter, has become a lost art.”

Fantasy of Flight is one of the only attractions in the country to play host to legendary WWII and Vietnam War heroes as they share their compelling personal accounts. During the symposium, veterans and guest speakers will interact with guests in open forum/question-and-answer sessions, followed by meet-and-greet/autograph signing sessions.