WWII Memoir Launch Celebrates 80th Anniversary of VJ Day

Santa Cruz author honors her family's rescue from Japan & the U.S. Marines who saved them in heartfelt, fun, history-rich evening

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day, local author, Laura Elliott, invites the community to a moving celebration of joy, resilience, and remembrance, centered around the launch of her just-released debut memoir, Dear Laura: A Lost Chapter of WWII, an Amazon #1 New Release & bestseller available here http://bit.ly/45eDoSV.

The event takes place Friday, August 15, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center and is free and open to all ages.

Elliott's deeply personal epistolary memoir is about her dad's experience as a Japanese POW in WWII during the Japanese Occupation of Indonesia, and how her family was taken hostage to force her radio engineer grandfather to work on a top-secret project for the Japanese military. It also profiles their miraculous rescue by the U.S. Marines off a beach in Hamamatsu, Japan, on August 15, 1945. Told through a decades-long heartfelt letter exchange between Elliott and her dad, written across oceans and generations, she unravels the mystery of Dear Laura on the world stage through the lens of faith and courage. The story is a testament to the lifelong adventure of understanding our loved ones and a powerful reminder that sometimes the most incredible stories are buried closest to home. For an excerpt & behind-the-scenes stories about the 38-year writing of the book, visit http://bit.ly/4lY8fu6.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Book reading & author reflections at 7:00 p.m.
WWII-era live big band music and dancing – 1940s attire encouraged
Authentic Indonesian bites & champagne toast
WWII memorabilia & rare artifacts from Dear Laura will be on display
Legacy storytelling stations for guests
A limited number of signed copies of Dear Laura will be available for purchase.

EVENT DETAILS

What: Dear Laura Book Launch & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Celebration
When: Friday, August 15, 2025 | 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center, 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Cost: Free | All ages welcome
More Info: http://bit.ly/4lY8fu6 

Photos available upon request.

Contact: Laura Elliott | [email protected] | Laurasmagicday.com
Event Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Location: Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz, CA

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SOURCE Laurasmagicday.com