OLLI CONNECTS
Monthly Magazine

July 2025

War and Remembrance

As Boomers, the two major wars in our lives were World War II, our parents’ war, and the Viet Nam War, the one that we fought in. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and the 50th anniversary of the end of the conflict in Viet Nam. In this issue we bring you stories from both of those wars, refresh your memory of the music that also shaped our lives, and share a sensuous, haunting tale of the power of wishes.

A Time to Rock
by Joseph McAuliffe

Excerpt from My Vietnam Memoir
by Andy Mohr

Wishing Well
by Janet Bergeron

Features

Essays | Themes | Research

My Hero and the “Hump Pilot”:
Dr. Robert Moore

Honoring Veterans on the
80th Anniversary of WWII Victory in Asia

— Kun Shi

The WWII “Flying Tigers”

— Kun Shi

Reprint from June, 2022

The Observer

Commentary | Reviews | Extras

Introducing

Nothing to Hyde

— George Hyde

We are delighted to announce the Observer’s newest element — a recurring column for George to share his observations about daily life, OLLI events and classes, and topics of interest to all. This month he focuses on an annoyance we’re all too familiar with.

Consumer Sludge — A Slippery Slope

The Greatest Generation

The family photo albums of OLLI Connects’ editorial staff and special friends have lots of pictures of men in uniform–the fathers and uncles who did their part in World War II. Let’s meet them.

Upcoming Classes | Writing Groups

Community of Readers and Writers — This SIG (Shared Interest Group) meets via zoom for discussion and special events and to share reading of current novels, non-fiction, short stories, memoirs and essays. We offer feedback through group conversation with experienced readers and train newcomers in our supportive methods. Our private Facebook site is a resource of ideas for developing your storytelling and literary skills. Contact readersandwriters.too@gmail.com.

Write Time for Poets. Welcome to your online poetry-writing community. Once a month, join us in our Zoom room — your creative space. Work on your poems-in-progress and/or practice timed writing in response to prompts. We meet for 90 minutes on the 2nd Thursday each month from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Contact Cath Mason, cmason6@usf.edu for more information.

Sheryl Long, Instructor. 08/12/25. 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Aston Gardens at Tampa Bay. Did you know that a woman commanded the largest fleet in history? Or that Churchill’s favorite spy was a woman? This class looks at 20 females from medieval times up through the 20th Century whose careers and/or exploits (for good or bad) often meant they worked undercover or disguised as men. Register here or call Charise. 813-545-8282