Historic Christmas Card Sent to N-M D L by Pritzker Military Museum and Library, December 2017

This World War I poster with the words: “Merry Christmas. Peace. Your Gift To The Nation.” was created by the U.S. Food Administration through the Advertising Section (under the Educational Division) and is included in the Pritzker's collections.

New Books of American Military History Just Landing at the Niles-Maine District Library

This book is available on the 3rd Floor in the New Books Collection at 940.5426699  K64.

         A new book shelved by the call number 940.5421111 H735a.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

959.70434 B784

a joint Afghan  combat memoir 958.1047 B838

358.4 V437

                 

11th Annual Veterans History Project Breakfast

72 in all attended a library signature event on Friday morning, November 3, as 24 veterans participated in the Roll Call.  The Sweet Reminder Duet as the Andrews Sisters provided the musical finale.

 

The veterans appearing in the picture are from left to right in the first row: Mike McNulty (wheelchair), Mort Elenbogen, and Max Kolpas. In the first row seated in chairs on the stage from left to right are Rudolph Hazucha, Kenneth Lee, Matt Wojtaszek, Charles Matz, Arthur Shapiro, David Besser, Ira Graham, and Bill Shipp. Seated in the second row from left to right are Pat Gerard, Richard Englund, Judith Carlson (for Norman Berkman), Roger Salamon, Bill Kroller, Fred Ziegler, and Ray Marchetta. Standing in the last row from left to right are Don Cronberg, Don Gloor, John Bugajsky, Gary Warner, Russell Zapel and Jack Weinberg. Library Director, Susan Lempke, welcomed the veterans and also acknowledged Mr. Hazucha as being the first President of the Niles Library Board of Trustees in 1959.

"Thank You For Your Service," annual November Exhibit at the Niles-Maine District Library

During the month, visitors to the first floor Commons area  can view a display focusing on the World War II uniforms worn by the two oldest  Niles participants in the Veterans History Project,  Charles Matz - US Marine and Matthew Wojtaszek - US Army Paratrooper who flank their exhibit as shown. Gunnery Sergeant Matz saw extensive action in the Pacific from New Guinea through Peleliu to Okinawa while T/5 Corporal  Wojtaszek fought from North Africa through Italy and Normandy and onto Germany.

 The library acknowledges the generosity and insight shared in this exhibit by Niles resident  and historian,  Chris Reuscher, who assembled the two uniforms from his extensive collection. His website is "the place to discover and explore United States military uniforms and clothing of the World War II era."

"It's My Country Too" arrives in New Books Section

This engaging compendium of bravery and achievement is shelved - or has a book address,  at 355.0082 I89.

On a related note provided by a follower of this blog, Amy McGrath, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and former Marine combat pilot, is now running for political office in Kentucky.

"The Black Knights" in the Luftwaffe

J. Marcellus Burke, World War II veteran and retired Chicago Police Detective, discusses his recent historical novel at the Niles-Maine District Library on Sunday, October 15, at 2pm in the 1st floor Large Meeting Room.

Mr. Burke who served as a combat engineer shares his fictionalized account of four fighter pilots of African descent who served in the Luftwaffe and the larger role of soldiers of African descent in the war. Mr. Burke and his publisher, Evanston’s Path Press, participated in the 2017 American Library Association Conference in Chicago where he shared his research.

Vietnam Leatherneck Phrase book

These highly insightful  pages from a small pamphlet were loaned for scanning by a follower of this blog. Her husband is a Marine veteran.

Agent Orange and Its Effects Town Hall Meeting

Vietnam Veterans of America, Chicago Chapter #242 presents the Agent Orange event on Saturday, September 23, 2017, from 1 to 5pm  at the the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Avenue, Chicago.

"From Chicago to Vietnam" a harrowing memoir

Michael Duffy, Vietnam veteran and author, discusses his newly released memoir of war at the Niles-Maine District Library on Wednesday, September 27, at 7pm in the 1st floor Large Meeting Room.

Mr. Duffy recounts a tour of duty that began on the first day of the Tet Offensive when eighty-thousand North Vietnamese and Vietcong soldiers attacked cities and military bases throughout South Vietnam. They would breach the perimeter of Saigon’s Airbase, Tan Son Nhut, forcing Mr. Duffy upon landing to sprint to a waiting helicopter. His harrowing memoir of the brutal tour that followed was 30 years in the making.

Registration can be made through the Information Desk at 847-663-1234 or via the library’s website at www.nileslibrary.org. Registration closes on September 27 at 7pm.

The Niles-Maine District Public Library, 6960 Oakton Street, is located at the northeast corner of Oakton Street and Waukegan Road.  Regular library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9am to 9pm; Friday, 9am to 7pm; Saturday, 9 am to 5pm, and Sunday, 1 to 5pm.

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