“DREAM DAY”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32703, 17 April 1946, Page 2

“DREAM DAY”

BRIDES FROM OVERSEAS CELEBRATIONS IN U.S.A. PAEROA GIRL’S EXPERIENCE Details of a special celebration for war brides from overseas, known as ‘"Dream Day,” which was held toward the end of last month in Akron, U.S.A., has been received by Mrs F. H. ißennett, of Paeroa, from her daughter, Mrs A. Varke, who was the only New Zealander among the brides who were honoured. About 26 brides from all parts of' the world were taken in special cars to a reception which began at 10' a.m. and l lasted until midnight. Writing to her mother, Mrs Varke describes the function as follows:— "‘Well February 20 was a special day here in Akron. It was called “Dream Day” for foreign G.I. brides. We all had a wonderful day and a great reception. I cannot tell you a.l about everything as it would take too long. But we were picked up by special cars at 10 a.m. in the morning and.it was 12 midnight before we left our reception. “The newspaper office here is sending each of us girls five issues of the paper giving full details of what happened 1 and where we went; also each bride is getting a free recording to sens home to our families. Each girl made the recording herself. Wait until you hear my recording, you will laugh at some of the questions the i announcer asked me. “There were 26 of us girls. Quite a number were English and Australian girls, but there were two Scotch, two French, one from Belgium, one from Iceland, one from Trinidad, two from Persia and myself from New Zealand. (We received a number of gifts besides free passes to four theatres for four months “also free hair do’s from a well known beauty store here. “Each bride was presented with a golden key from the Mayor, from the city of Akron. We also received a telegram from Greer Garson, the English born actress, saying how sorry she was that she could not be with us. There was also a telegram from Lord Halifax.”