If it’s been some time since you had a swell time cutting a rug with your sweetie, the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field gives you a chance to step back in time each year and visit the 1940s during their Big Band Dance fundraiser.
Each March, the Museum hosts a dance in its hangar, complete with live music, a costume contest, dance lessons and a line-up of food trucks.
Over the past 33 years, the Commemorative Air Force Museum has perfected this annual event. Imagine walking into the massive hangar and seeing red lips and victory rolls, suspenders and pageboy caps, as well as vintage military uniforms from every branch. The sounds of a big band fill the air, and the crowd on the dance floor is doing the jitterbug. You are transported back to another time—to a place where life moves at a slower pace and the attitude of the country is a bit more patriotic.
This year’s event did not disappoint. The night kicked off with swing dance lessons, so everyone, no matter their skill level, could kick up their heels on the dance floor. Rows of tables full of people dressed to the nines looked like they had stepped out of the pages of a history book.
The stories behind some of the costumes were amazing, too. Several retired military members, World War II veterans, to be exact, were wearing their uniforms. Sons, daughters and grandchildren honored the veterans in their families by wearing uniforms that had been passed down. The costume contest was not only the perfect time to spotlight each individual costume, but it also served as an opportunity for everyone to appreciate the time and effort that went into each costume.
Some people, like Brandin Bear and Michael Urbano, spent the last year planning their costumes. For Brandin and Michael, the vintage football and cheerleading uniforms were a way for them to honor their fathers who played college football. The winners of the costume contest were Ron Rough and his partner, Lonna, who made the perfect pair as a soldier and Marilyn Monroe. A World War II veteran, Ron was wearing his original uniform.
Hearing the stories from days long past and seeing people who had a personal connection to big events in our nation’s history made the evening even more meaningful. The Commemorative Air Force Museum works hard to preserve unique history from World War II.
Walking through the museum, you will see all sorts of aircraft used by the military and by private pilots in that time period. There are displays of military uniforms and videos for you to see and hear clips from the 1940s detailing how different life was.
The Big Band Dance is the museum’s big fund-raising event each year, which helps secure the funds needed to keep this piece of our history alive and accessible to all. You do not want to miss out on next year’s event and your chance to experience the 1940s for yourself.
The Commemorative Air Force Museum is located at 2017 N. Greenfield Road. For more information, call (480) 924-1940.