The Moonlight Swing big band performed a sold-out concert Saturday night at the Country Club. The 20-performer band kept the room jumping and swaying with the music of Glenn Miller. (Photos: Mark Dong Photography)

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Murietans have attended many concerts that took them on nostalgic musical journeys, but the Country Club’s sold-out performance Saturday of Moonlight Swing, a big band playing the wartime music of band leader Glenn Miller, celebrated a generation and its finest hour as well as its music.

Moonlight Swing, dressed in uniforms like Miller's Army Air Forces service band, performed three dozen numbers in a concert that started at 8 and ended at 11. The crowd was on the dance floor for fast numbers and slow, especially during the band's final numbers -- "Chattanooga Choo Choo," "American Patrol" and "Moonlight Serenade."

The band performed all of Miller's hits.

With red, white and blue bunting and wartime posters on the walls, the club took on the aspect of a dance staged to support the war effort by selling bonds.

The patriotic and nostalgic feeling of the 1940s started at the front door. There were vintage cars parked outside and WACs inside handing out show programs. The program's cover featured the famous photo of a sailor in Times Square kissing a nurse on V-J Day and read, "To quote Tom Brokaw, 'It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced.'"

The club's large trophy cases were filled with War World II memorabilia gathered from Murietans who served or who wanted to share their family’s wartime experiences. There were dramatic mementos of the conflict – the medals earned in combat, uniforms, photos of destroyers and fighter planes -- but ration books and photos taken at war bond events were reminders that the war effort took place at home, too.

Throughout the club there were items from the '40s -- posters, matchbooks, menus, uniforms. Even the restrooms were decorated to evoke the era.

"Cigarette girls" circulated in the crowd, taking nightclub table photos in exchange for donations to purchase items for military personnel serving today.

Club President Vince Lepera, right, thanked the committee members who made the evening possible.

Club President Vince Lepera thanked the volunteers who helped stage the evening as he opened the show. He named committee members Leon Sobon, Pat Lytle, John Holm, Diane Davey, Gail Lewandowski, Bonnie Kirschman, Linda Weatherholt and volunteers Connie Enzensperger, Carole Thames and Liz Jordan.

Lepera singled out club member George Nelson from among the many who loaned memorabilia for allowing his Purple Heart metal to be displayed.

Three trophy cases were filled with memorabilia from the war -- at home and overseas.

The many who contributed to the displays and decorations were recognized in the program for the event. In addition to George and Bobbie Nelson, they are Donna Anderson, Norm and Bobbie Foley, Bob and Doris Hansen, John Holm, Hugh and Diane Davey, Don and Carole Fraser, Helen Hansen, Jim and Fran Hubbert, Vince and Rhonda Lepera, Bill and Pat Lytle, Jim and Sally Paravantes, Dick and Mary Silvis, Jeff and Melinda Frost, Kent and Nancy Kilborn, Helen Zimmerman, Ruth and Norris Swindle, Lorraine Madsen, Gail and Tom Lewandowski, Gerald and Marilyn Moore, Hunt and Francis Norris, Cheryl Roberts, John and Linda Weatherholt, Bridget Gransee, Roy Kriletich, Isabelle Zuercher, Jeff and Lisa Meyer, and Mari Jo Pelzner.