SURF CITY – After four dark years of conflict, America was ready to celebrate Christmas in 1945. Hear author Matthew R. Litt as he unpacks the remarkable stories and traditions about historic post-World War II holiday season at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 14 at the Long Beach Island Branch of the Ocean County Library.

Litt is the author of the bestselling book Christmas 1945: The Story of the Greatest Celebration in American History. In December 1945, World War II was finally over, and the country was ready to celebrate after four dark holiday seasons. This book tells the true stories of Christmas 1945. Some will make you smile, some will make you cry, all will restore your American holiday spirit and faith in humankind.

Litt has been an honored speaker at the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri, the Franklin Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York, and aboard the Battleship New Jersey in Camden. He has written an article about Christmas 1945 for Time magazine and appeared on countless television and radio programs discussing the book.

This program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Island Library.

Registration is required for this free program. To register, visit tinyurl.com/Xmas1945OCL, call 609-494-2480, or stop by the branch at 217 South Central Ave., Surf City.