In 1943 Rotorua was awash with American troops on their way to fight in the Pacific.
During their time in Rotorua the troops were visited by the United States of America's First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who was in town to wish the men well. With them was 26-year-old Ynys Fraser, who also got to meet with and shake the hand of the First Lady.
Now, 70 years later, Mrs Fraser was on hand to mark the anniversary at a special event at the Rotorua Museum yesterday. Representing the United States was US embassy chief of mission Marie Damour, who was accompanied by Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters.
Mrs Fraser said it was a day she remembered very well. "She [Eleanor Roosevelt] was very impressed with how we women had taken over the work of the men while they were away. At the time my husband was serving in Fiji and he was seconded into the American forces.
"We didn't realise it then but it was the beginning of women having much more of a say in society," she said.