Veteran Will Display War Memorabilia

It’s been more than five decades since Leonard Zerlin manned a turret gun on a B-26 bomber, but those days live on in his World War II uniforms, posters and other artifacts. Concert-goers will get an eyeful of the collection at the Civic Arts Plaza on Tuesday night.

A retired engineer, Zerlin volunteered to decorate the lobby with gear, helmets and other memorabilia for a one-night performance of “The Big Band Salute to the Music that Won World War II.”

Zerlin, 74, also will display the American flag his mother hung at their Brooklyn home when he enlisted at the age of 18. It was up until he returned four years later.

Zerlin still has more than 2,000 letters he received in Europe from family and friends on the home front.

“I’m very nostalgic about everything,” said Zerlin, who wrote a book called “World War II . . . Memories,” about war-era songs, slang, stories and cartoons.

“Most of the guys I went over with never came back,” he said. “There isn’t a minute of my life I don’t appreciate, because the reality of it is I shouldn’t be here.”

Zerlin plans to wear his original World War II military uniform to the concert, and he encourages other vets to do the same.

“How many more years do we have to do all this?” he said. “I just thought it would be fun.”

The concert will feature the Harry James Orchestra, the Lancers and Marilyn King.

Veterans with memorabilia to contribute to the display can contact Zerlin at 492-2272. Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert cost $28.50 for adults, $18.50 for children. Call 449-2787 for information.