DUPONT — They were rock’n and a roll’n in Dupont as the VFW presented a nostalgic evening of greasers and saddle shoes at the Sock Hop.
The VFW hosts many themed parties throughout the year but on Sept. 14 every loved going to the hop.
Many of the VFW members and guests were dressed in 50s period piece clothing, including swing skirts, saddle shoes and leather jackets.
“We usually get over 100 people to the hop,” sasid Bob Lopata, VFW president and past commander. “We have a Christmas party, a New Year’s party, a Valentine’s Day party, a St. Patrick’s Day party; a Sock Hop fits right in.”
In addition to themed events, the Dupont VFW keeps members on their toes by holding dances every Saturday night and Sunday afternoons and karaoke on Friday evenings.
“We have different things for all ages, including polkas,” Lopata said. “We have a band coming in from Massachusetts and a band from New Hampshire next month. You can come here on a Sunday afternoon and see cars from Connecticut, Jersey and New York.”
Joining the party were 20 members of Dupont Mayor Dan Lello’s Class of 1964 from Northeast High School, the predecessor to Pittston Area prior to the jointure in the fall of 1966.
Notices were sent out to all classmates who attended the 50th anniversary reunion that an unofficial 55th anniversary reunion would be held at the VFW.
“We were thinking of a place to go that was close and reasonable to have a little reunion,” Lello said. “We were 1964; it’s a little after the 50s but the music fits.”
Northeast class members brought socks to be donated to the VFW.
Hank Zekoski, of Moosic, intended to bring his 1958 Chevy Impala but, with bad weather the night of the sock hop, decided to leave the car at home.
“We’ve been members of the VFW for quite some time and we found out about the sock hop and my girlfriend and I decided to attend and, naturally, in the garb from the 50s. I know we’re going to have a fantastic night tonight,” Zekoski said. “This place is fantastic. It’s a place where you have a heckuva lot of fun and it costs very little.”
“It’s nice because it’s close by (VFW); we can all have a good time. It’s inexpensive and all of our friends are social members,” said Sheila Kern, of Pittston. “It’s crazy if you don’t come to all the parties. We’re all in our 70s; we have a good time.”
