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Arts & Entertainment

Gene Doretti presents "Adventures in Patriotism" at Oak Park Arms

Gene Doretti will present “Adventures in Patriotism” at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.
 
Doretti will honor victims of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 by presenting topics such as the history of the Statue of Liberty; Sydney L. DeLove’s “Can We Wave the Flag too Much’” General Douglas MacArthur’s speech, “Duty, Honor, Country” and a portion of the “Gettysburg Address.”

Originally called “Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks,” Patriot Day is designated in memory of the victims of Sept. 11. Since 2002, on this day the President requests that the American flag be flown at half-staff and a moment of silence is to begin at 8:46 a.m., the time when the first plane struck the World Trade Center.

The presentation will also feature music including the original 1897 Sousa’s Stars and Stripes and the original sheet music of Irving Berlin’s God Bless America.

Doretti’s interest in radio began in high school, and his first radio job was broadcast from the station at the Oak Park Arms Hotel.

He attended Northern Illinois University in the 1950s, majoring in speech and journalism. In 1960, he was offered a job at WGN, where he was employed for 31 years. Through his work he has interviewed countless celebrities and politicians such as John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

Following his WGN career, he did voiceover work for radio and TV including commercials and industrial films.

Doretti, a former Berwyn resident, lives in Lombard.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.


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