Author: Lee Matz

Personal memories of the atomic bombings on Japan fade with the passing of the WWII generation

Personal memories of the atomic bombings on Japan fade with the passing of the WWII generation

Posted by | Sep 26, 2025

Japan marked the 80th anniversary of its surrender in World War II this summer with solemn ceremonies in Tokyo and Hiroshima, underscoring how the nation is running out of time to preserve the memory of its wartime experience. With the average age of atomic bomb survivors now more than 86, the number of voices able to directly testify about the devastation is rapidly declining. At Tokyo’s Budokan Hall, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba joined about 4,500 officials, bereaved families, and their descendants for a national memorial on August 15. Attendees observed a moment of silence at noon, the exact time...

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Why Korean entertainment resonates with American youth as U.S. cultural soft power falters under Trump

Why Korean entertainment resonates with American youth as U.S. cultural soft power falters under Trump

Posted by | Sep 5, 2025

“I had a six-year-old kid run up to me, grab my hand, and say, ‘You’re Rumi. You’re the speaking voice for Rumi.’ And I reply, ‘Wait, you’re a six-year-old boy? How do you know that?’ And he says, ‘I did my research.’ Then the mom adds, ‘Oh yeah, he’s seen the movie 17 times. He knows everything. He Googled you guys and knows your faces.’ … But one of the best responses I got was from a seven-year-old boy who said, ‘I love the ending scene when they all sing, and they learn that you have to work together,...

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Milwaukee civic leaders join national advocates at global forum to unite for Ukrainian Independence

Milwaukee civic leaders join national advocates at global forum to unite for Ukrainian Independence

Posted by | Aug 25, 2025

A high-level international forum held on August 23 at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Chicago brought together leading foreign policy voices, elected officials, and civic delegations from across the United States. The event was organized to reinforce public support for Ukraine as it marked its 34th year of independence under fire from a brutal aggressor. Those attending also included the leadership of Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc., and other notable representatives from Milwaukee’s Ukrainian community. The event, titled “Ukraine and the World: Global Insights Forum,” was part of a broader slate of commemorations organized by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s...

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Ukrainian flag raised in City Hall to show Milwaukee’s solidarity with sister city Irpin and Ukraine

Ukrainian flag raised in City Hall to show Milwaukee’s solidarity with sister city Irpin and Ukraine

Posted by | Aug 12, 2025

Milwaukee’s City Hall rotunda was filled with the blue and yellow colors of Ukraine on August 11, when Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc., in partnership with the City of Milwaukee, hosted a special Ukrainian Flag Display Ceremony. The special event marked the beginning of a two-week period in which the flag will be displayed prominently inside City Hall’s historic rotunda, culminating on August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day. The program featured remarks from city officials, Ukrainian American leaders, and community stakeholders, each offering their perspective on the meaning of the occasion and the importance of maintaining awareness about the dire situation in...

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Milwaukee leaders detail historic flooding damage and outline recovery efforts after record rainfall

Milwaukee leaders detail historic flooding damage and outline recovery efforts after record rainfall

Posted by | Aug 11, 2025

Historic rainfall over the weekend of August 9 and 10 swamped Milwaukee County with record-breaking floods, prompting the cancellation of the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair, cutting power to tens of thousands, and leaving emergency crews scrambling to handle hundreds of calls for help. The deluge, which began on August 9, dumped as much as 12 inches of rain in parts of the metro area, overwhelming drainage systems and submerging streets, basements and parks. The National Weather Service reported the Milwaukee River cresting at a record 11.19 feet, surpassing the 10.48-foot mark set in July 2010. City...

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75th anniversary of Korean War brings rare fleet of historic aircraft to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025

75th anniversary of Korean War brings rare fleet of historic aircraft to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025

Posted by | Jul 28, 2025

EAA AirVenture 2025 marked the 75th anniversary of the Korean War with one of the largest gatherings of Korean War-era aircraft seen in the United States in decades. The lineup brought together a rare mix of piston-engine icons and early Cold War jets, machines that defined the air war over the Korean peninsula and symbolized the technological shift underway at mid-century. The featured aircraft included the F4U Corsair, P-51 Mustang, B-29 Superfortress, AD-4 and AD-5W Skyraiders, PB4Y Privateer, Stinson L-5 Sentinel, and Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, representing the United States and United Nations forces. They were joined by Republic...

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