GPC Educational Symposium Will Highlight Legacy of World War II ATLANTA, Ga., (October 7, 2011) - Dr. Thomas Graham is on a mission to honor World War II veterans. The Georgia Perimeter College Dunwoody history professor and former U.S. Naval officer has been inspired to organize a week long educational symposium Nov. 7 to 10, followed by a USO-style Stage Door Canteen and Dance on November 11. Graham teaches his students how what happened during World War II still affects their lives today, because of the service and sacrifice of the men and women who served almost 70 years ago. “We recognize that the number of World War II veterans is rapidly decreasing,” Graham says. “This generation needs to know about them, they need to know how close the world came to being crushed by the Axis powers. Most World War II veterans don’t see themselves as heroes—they say, the ones that died, they were the heroes,” says Graham. The free symposium will take an interdisciplinary look at World War II presented through a series of talks and panels—from the literature of the time, to the mathematical precision of the codes created to stymie the enemy, to the scientific breakthroughs of the period. The talks will feature community members who are World War II veterans themselves, including members of the Tuskegee Airmen, and other World War II “flyboys,” as well as talks by those who grew up in Europe, Germany and China during the war. Moderated by GPC faculty, panel topics include “Children of the War,” “Jewish-German Roundtable,” “Economics and the War” and “Math and the War—Ciphers and Codes.” The films “Inglorious Basterds,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “The Big Red One” and “The King’s Speech” are part of the week-long educational event and open to the public. The panels dates and times are listed below for both the GPC Dunwoody Campus, and the GPC Alpharetta Center. All Dunwoody Campus events will be in Building NC, Room 1100. The 1940s Stage Door Dinner and Dance is a fundraiser for GPC’s Military Outreach Initiative, and will be held on the college’s Clarkston Campus gymnasium Friday, Nov. 11 on Veteran’s Day. For information about the dance call 678-891-2550, or go to www.giving.gpc.edu   . For information on the symposium, contact Graham at 770-274-5419. WWII Symposium Week, Dunwoody Campus, 2101 Womack Road, Dunwoody Monday, Nov. 7 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. “The War in the Pacific—War without Mercy” 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. WWII Veterans Tell Their Stories 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Jewish-German Roundtable 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Film, “Inglourious Basterds” Tuesday, Nov. 8 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. “Economics and War” 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. “Children of the War” 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. "Math and the War" 2:30 p.m. -5 p.m. Film, “Saving Private Ryan” Wednesday, Nov. 9 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Literature of WWII 11:30 to 12:45 p.m. How WWII Impacted Scientific Discoveries 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. WWII’s Sociological Impact on American Society 2:30pm to 5 p.m. Film, “Big Red One” Thursday, Nov. 10 10 a.m. to 11:15am Labor Problems in Wartime 11:30 a.m. to 12:45pm Fly Boys of WWII 1 p.m. to 2:15pm Great Speeches of WWII 2:30pm to 5 p.m. Film, “The King’s Speech” WWII Symposium, GPC Alpharetta Center, 3705 Brookside Parkway, Alpharetta Tuesday, Nov. 8 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. “Decrypting Patriotism” Panelists: Dr. Kara Smith, “Women on the Home Front: Beyond Rosie the Riveter” Prof. Laura Lembeck, “Breaking the Enigma Encryption System” Prof. Jennifer Duncan, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way”: Comic Books as American Propaganda Prof. David Darracott-- The Literature of World War II: “The Good War?” Wednesday, Nov. 9  10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Panel, “Great Speeches of World War II Panelists: Prof. Rick Lindner: “Franklin D. Roosevelt's Declaration of War Address” Prof. Bill Price: “World War II Speeches delivered by American Military Leaders” Prof. Tina Zagara: “Hitler's Nazi Party Address: Pathos and the use of Music for Psychological Effects”