Son’s Effusive Valentine to Generation WW2

His parents’ 50th wedding anniversary inspired Christopher Dean White to write what he calls his “labor of love.”

In honor of the sacrifices and achievements of what he considers possibly the “greatest generation in American history,” the Corona del Mar film and television writer has written and self-published “A Tribute to Our Parents & the Entire W.W. II Generation” (Christopher Publishing, $29.95).

Glossing over some of the era’s more troubled periods, the heavily illustrated, 144-page book offers an overview of major milestones of his parents’ generation. The headings are Surviving the Great Depression; Saving the World From Tyranny (World War II and Korea), and Winning the Space Race. Also covered are science, medicine and technology, music, motion pictures, television, sports, art, literature and leaders.

Black-and-white archival photographs, used extensively, tell their own tales: a Depression-era bread line in New York City, two grief-stricken GIs comforting each other on a battlefield, a packed Times Square on V-J Day, a nuclear family gathered by a television listening to President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis.

Also here are all the old familiar faces: Billy Graham, Henry Kissinger, Jackie Robinson, Lucy, Brando, the Duke, Satchmo, Johnny and Ed.

While acknowledging in his introduction that this generation “had its problems and imperfections,” White contends that their “accomplishments far outweigh their failures.”

It’s a glowing tribute. In a section on U.S. presidents, no mention of the Vietnam War is made in Lyndon B. Johnson’s brief biographical sketch, nor is Watergate or his resignation to avoid impeachment in Richard M. Nixon’s.

Consider it a heartfelt homage from a baby-boom son of a merchant marine veteran and successful businessman who, White says, “was always there” for his children. And to a mother “whose priorities were the needs of others, well before [her] own.”

White adds: “You of the W.W. II generation were used to making sacrifices--while growing up in the early days of the Depression, while giving your lives in the war, and while making sacrifices for us as parents. One of the most admirable traits of your generation is how you rarely complained about anything. . . .”

The author will sign copies of his book at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Oasis Senior Center, 800 Marguerite Ave., Corona del Mar.

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Poet Sojourner Kincaid Rolle will headline Chapman University’s second annual Poetry Bash this weekend.

The free event, in affiliation with the Orange County chapter of Poets, Editors and Novelists, the California State Poetry Society and California Poets in the Schools, will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in Room 208 of Argyros Forum on campus, 333 N. Glassell St., Orange.

Among the day’s events: a workshop on submitting poetry for publications and contests, a workshop titled “Ghazals: Arabic Poetic Forms” and a contest for the best poem created from a series of supplied words.

Rolle will perform “The Travels of Sojourner Truth: From Slavery to Star,” a story reflecting African-American slave Sojourner Truth, who became an activist for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery during the Civil War.

For information, call (714) 532-6000.

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Thomas Cahill will discuss his bestseller “The Gifts of the Jews” at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Jewish Community Center of Orange County, 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. Cost: $25 for patrons, which includes reserved seating and a dessert reception; $12 for JCC members, $18 for nonmembers. For reservations, call the center at (714) 755-0340.

“The Gifts of the Jews” (Doubleday) is the second volume in Cahill’s “The Hinges of History” series. The first volume, “How the Irish Saved Civilization,” was a 1995 bestseller.

Also Coming Up

* Judith Shervin and James Sniechowski, husband-and-wife authors of “The New Intimacy: Discovering the Magic at the Heart of Your Differences,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo.

* Barbara DeMarco Barrett will interview Taylor Smith (“Random Acts”) and Louise Rafkin (“Other People’s Dirt”) on an extended broadcast of her “Writers on Writing” show from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today on KUCI-FM (88.9) in Irvine.

* Weight-loss and sports nutritionists Joyce and Gene Daoust, authors of “40-30-30 Fat Burning Nutrition,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble in the Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave.

* Julie Nixon Eisenhower will discuss her biography of her mother, “Pat Nixon: The Untold Story,” at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. Admission: $8. A free book-signing will be held at 11:30 a.m. for books purchased in the library gift shop. For information, call the library at (714) 993-5075.

* Children’s book illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser will sign “You Can’t Take a Balloon Into the Metropolitan Museum” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Fashion Island, 953 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

* A sale of gift books for children and adults will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Crown Valley Library, 30341 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel.

* Original works from five children’s book illustrators will be featured at Chemers Gallery’s seventh annual children’s book illustrators show and signing from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the gallery, 17300 17th St., Tustin. Dominic Catalano, Leonid Gore, Mark Graham, Carol Heyer and Jan Palmer will sign copies of their books. Ten percent of the proceeds from the sale of original works and books will benefit Ronald McDonald House. For information, call the gallery at (714) 731-5432.

* Robert H. Hopcke, author of “There Are No Accidents,” will speak and sign at 2 p.m. Sunday at Barnes & Noble in Fashion Island, 953 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

* Emily Brightwell will sign her mystery “Mrs. Jeffries Takes the Cake” at 1 p.m. Sunday at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Life & Style, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.