WWII Sewing and WWI Knitting

When his father leaves to fight in World War I, Mikey joins the Central Park Knitting Bee to help knit clothing for soldiers overseas. - See more at: http://nileslibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2225074035_knit_your_bit#sthash.O5lLOLSU.dpuf

This new children's picture book, subtitled a World War I Story, is written by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Steven Guarnaccia. Its plot summary  in the library's Bibliocommons catalog reads: When his father leaves to fight in World War I, Mikey  joins the Central Park Knitting Bee to help knit clothing for soldiers overseas. 

Great Lakes Naval Training Station, then and now

A follower of the blog shared this 1942 picture. Her uncle can be viewed in the second row,
seven sailors from the right.His name was Francis Corcoran of LaSalle County Illinois.

Max Kolpas, wearing the white jacket and a World War II veteran cap, was an invited guest-of-honor at his grandson's graduation ceremony at Great Lakes in June, 2013. Mr. Kolpas participated in the invasion of Normandy and has shared his story through the Veterans History Project.

November 2013 Veterans Exhibit at Niles Public Library Honors WACs and JFK

This fall’s November Veterans Day exhibit acknowledges the contributions of the WACS, the Women’s Army Corps, during World War II and also honors the memory of the nation’s 35th President, John F. Kennedy,  who served with distinction in the U.S. Navy. Fifty years ago in August of 1963, he wrote

"Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, 'I served in the United States Navy,'" 

The library acknowledges the help of the Niles Historical Society and its curator, Dan Smaczny, and the invaluable assistance of Niles resident, Chris Reuscher in mounting the exhibit. Dan arranged for the loan of the painting by the distinguished artist Konrad Hack. Once again, Chris shares historic uniforms from his personal collection and his considerable expertise in their display.

Here's a close-up of the Konrad Hack painting of General George Marshall and Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby,
"Inspecting the WAC," which now hangs back at its current home at the Niles Historical Society where the artist will appear in a public program on Saturday, November 23, from 2 - 4 pm.The NHS telephone number is 847-390-0160.

Veterans History Breakfast 2013: Roll Call

Wednesday, November 6, 2013, 9:15am

New Canadian War Museum Exhibit about Jan Karski, the Holocaust Whistleblower

THE WORLD KNEW – Jan Karski’s Mission for Humanity 

is the new exhibition at the Ottawa museum. This item was supplied by a follower of this blog. He wrote:

                     It was the opening of an exhibit on Jan Karski, a Pole who went deep

                      into the ghettoes of Warsaw to get first-hand material on the Holocaust that 

                      would be used in pleading the case for intervention to Roosevelt.

                                              (Unsuccessfully, Unfortunately)

 The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa was a contributing paratner to the exhibition.

Jan Karski's book, Story of a Secret State: My Report to the World, is available at the Niles Public Library on the 3rd floor at 940.53438 K18st. Patrons may check the library's online catalog for the current status of the book, first published in 1944.

7th Annual Veterans History Project Breakfast

The Niles Public Library presented its 7th Annual Veterans History Project Breakfast on Wednesday morning, November 6, to honor the community's heroes and especially those participating in the national memoir of service program.The veterans and their guests as well as members of the community, numbering 72 in all, applauded the Legacy Girls in the breakfast finale as they performed the Andrews Sisters' Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and other favorites from the late 30s and 40s.
 

The 24 guests of honor assembled on stage for the group picture and roll call.  

Standing in the back row from left to right are John O’Malley, Jerry Levin, Rich Hyland, Sam Schechter, Leo Madura, Russell Zapel, and Mike McNulty.  

Seated in the 2^nd row of chairs from left to right are Ken Radnitzer, John Bugajsky, Charles Matz, Robert Lavery , Kenneth Lee, Jack Weinberg, Tom Vana, and Richard Vana. 

Seated in the first row from left to right are Walter Tymczuk, Max Kolpas, Irv Abramson, Matthew Wojtaszek, Bill Shipp, Judith Carlson for Norman Berkman, Arthur Shapiro, Don Spitzer and seated on the stage is Bernard Warchol.  

This year's official picture was taken by Colleen Kelly, the Graphic Design Coordinator of the Niles Public Library. The breakfast service was co-sponsored with the Regency Rehabilitation Center in Niles, IL and the office of its Community Outreach Coordinator, Anna Kolis.

Rest In Peace Matthew Potoczek, U.S. Army, Sergeant, China-Burma-India

Niles resident and World War II veteran, Matthew Potoczek, died on October 26, 2013 at the age of 88. He was a member of the last cavalry unit in the U.S. Army and once had the famous entertainer, Dan Dailey as his commanding officer during basic training.

A copy of the cover of his transcript appears below.

Mr.  Potoczek's  memoir of service can be read and listened through the Niles Public Library's web site.