"D-Day," the Annual May, 2014 Memorial Day Exhibit at the Library

The library’s annual May display to honor our local veterans and highlight the local Veteran’s History Project was initiated by Battle of the Bulge veteran, Al Aronson, of the US

28th Infantry Division or the “Keystone”/Bucket of Blood Division  in 2009.  Mr. Aronson’s interview transcript is available along with those of 52 other heroes in the 3rd floor Reference Department and via the library’s website . This year’s exhibit focuses on the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944. The library acknowledges the informed generosity of Niles resident and veteran Ralph Ponfil who donated the German war artifacts.  This year’s exhibit again benefits greatly from the contributions of Niles resident Chris Reuscher who has shared appropriate uniforms from his extensive collection which is detailed on a most helpful website .

3 VHP participants who have recorded their memoirs of service through the Niles Public Library took part in the Normandy Invasion: Max Kolpas (Wood Dale), Walter Tymczuk (Niles) and Matthew Wojtaszek (Niles). All served in the US Army.

Annual May Exhibit Honoring Veterans

Initiated by Niles resident and veteran Al Aronson in 2009, this annual display honors America's veterans and highlights the library's participation in the national Veterans History Project.

This year the library spotlights the contributions of World War II B-17 tail gunner, Chester Rogala, and his son Richard, a POW of the North Koreans upon their capture of the US Pueblo in  1968.

Niles resident and collector, Chris Reuscher, assisted library staff in the planning and execution of the exhibit, loaning the historically accurate clothing and gear which would have been worn by Chester Rogala while serving in the US Army Air Corps, flying out of Foggia, Italy on his 51 combat missions. Niles veteran and resident, Ralph Ponfil, also made items available for the exhibit.

Richard Rogala displays his Navy uniform and the North Korean garb he wore upon his release across the Bridge of No Return on December 23, 1968 along with 81 other crew members.

Both transcripts can be read via the library's website along with those of 48 other veterans.

Annual May Remembering Our Veterans Display

The military artifacts on display in the east and west exhibit cases have been loaned for exhibit during May.

The exhibit coordinator is Al Aronson, a World War II Army veteran of the ‘Bloody Bucket” Keystone Division in Europe and a participant in the Veterans History Project* at Niles. The VHP interview transcripts have been posted on the library’s website and are available in the Reference Department for reading.

VHP participants Gus Habighurst* (WWII-CBI), Niels Larsen(Korean War)*, Jerry Levin*(WWII-Pacific), and Matthew Wojtaszek (WWII-Europe)* as well as Mike McNulty (Viet Nam), Ralph Ponfil (Korean War), and Chris Reuscher have all loaned items for this year’s exhibit which for the first time takes up two windows and includes items from the Viet Nam War.

Remembering Our Veterans Display

In cooperation with the Veterans Group of the Family Services Division of the Village of Niles, the library assembled the display from items loaned by local veterans. Al Aronson and Marty Friedman coordinated the collection and delivery of the items to the library. The first floor display can be viewed throughout May.