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By Jenny Maher, Delaware State News, May 18, 2007 DOVER — With World War II airplanes suspended overhead and big band music playing over the speakers, more than two dozen veterans, in their 80s and 90s, were transported back to their younger years Friday at the Dover Air Force Base’s Air Mobility Command Museum. The local venue was just one stop during the 90th Heavy Bomb Group’s annual East Coast reunion. Nanny State: How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and other Boneheaded Bureaucrats are Turning America into a Nation of Children Old friends, old jokes and old stories were at the heart of the four-day gathering, which reunited 26 men who served together during World War II, flying B-24 Liberators and dropping bombs on enemy forces. WWII flight engineer James Ciliberti, 85, of Smyrna, hosted the reunion, which made its first trip to Dover in eight years. World War II flight engineer James Ciliberti, 85, of Smyrna, stands in front of a B-17 bomber in the Dover Air Force Base Air Mobility Command Museum Friday. Mr. Ciliberti hosted a four-day reunion in Dover of the 90th Heavy Bomb Group who fought during the war. Delaware State News/Daniel Korup “This is about reminiscing, talking about old times, enjoying each other’s company and telling each other a few lies and many jokes,” Mr. Ciliberti said of the annual event. He and his fellow Jolly Rogers wore jackets decorated with World War II patches, illustrating the places they served during the war, such as Papua New Guinea and the Philippine Islands, as well as a patch with their famous skull and crossed bombs insignia. The reunion was a much anticipated event for the celebrated veterans, who traveled from near and far to enjoy each other’s company. Joseph Liba, 88, of Michigan, who served as a crew chief with the 90th Bomb Group, was happy to make the trip to Delaware with his wife, Margot. “This brings back a lot of memories,” Mr. Liba said as he surveyed all the World War II artifacts and exhibits in the Air Mobility Command Museum. His only disappointment was that, each year, the number of veterans at the East Coast reunion dwindles. “We used to have more than 100 or 150,” he said, noting that 32 of the group’s veterans passed away last year. “Every day we have is a blessing.” Herman Shanker, 93, of Bayonne, N.J., said he felt like a young man again as he reunited with his old war buddies. “We’re very, very close — we’re like a family,” he said. “When I see them, I see them the way they were (in the ‘40s).” Mr. Shanker made the trip from New Jersey with his wife, Esther, and daughter, Sue. Many of the veterans brought their relatives to the reunion, which culminates today with a dinner at the Camden Veterans of Foreign Wars. The get-together also included trips to the Air Force and World War II memorials in Washington and a dinner cruise down the Choptank River and Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Mr. Ciliberti said he hopes the reunions will continue for at least another 10 years. For him, there’s nothing quite like being with his friends from the 90th Bomb Group. “We were all in the same boat during the war. We were all there with one purpose, and everybody diligently did their job and supported each other,” he said. “We maintain that attitude today. After 60 years, we’re still good friends and we look forward to seeing each other.” center>