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."