The 8th Annual Veterans History Project Breakfast

The Niles Public Library presented its 8th Annual Veterans History Project Breakfast on Thursday morning, November 6, 2014, to honor the community's heroes and especially those participating in the national memoir service of program. After a very moving roll call recorded by Young Adult Librarian Donna Block and placed at  http://youtu.be/w31wuhmqwrs,  Sasha Vasilic, the library's Digital Marketing Coordinator, stepped up to take the group  picture.

Seated in the front row from left to right are Bill Shipp, Martha Shipp, Celine Tymczuk representing her late husband Wally, and Felix Priola. Sitting in the second row from left to right are Irv Abramson, Dr. Irwin Williger, Don Spitzer, Matthew Wojtaszek, Jack Weinberg, Tom Vana, Dick Vana, and Art Shapiro.
In the 3rd row seated from left to right are Rich Hyland, Sam Schechter, Charles Matz, retired Army Lieutenant Bette Horstman, who also represents her late husband Henry, Judith Carlson, representing her late father Norman Berkman, and Ken Lee.

Standing in the back row are Chuck Jacobs, Mike Lake, Ken Radnitzer, Russell Zapel, Jerry Levin, and Mike McNulty. Albert Dominick also attended but does not appear in the picture.

The breakfast was co-sponsored with Tracy Sember and the Regency Rehabilitation Center of Niles. Chris Hanusiak, President of the Friends, announced a renewed and increased donation of $500 to  Honor Flight Chicago. Inspired by their special guests, the effective teamwork of the Niles staff ensured a tasty breakfast was served with efficiency and charm. Library Director Susan Dove Lempke officially welcomed the veterans and the Legacy Girls as the Andrew Sisters topped off the breakfast with a musical salute to the community's heroes.

The transcripts of the oral interviews of these veterans can be read and heard via the Niles Public Library  website. 

Additional details and photographs as ably provided by reporter Igor Studenkov can be viewed at
http://niles.chicagotribune.com/2014/11/10/niles-public-library-honors-local-veterans/ .

Veterans Roll Call at 6th Annual Niles Breakfast

November Veterans Day Exhibit at Niles Library




The World War I soldier's profile is an adaptation of an illustration from the cover of the
 library's copy of Sebastian Faulk's novel Birdsong. The replica items of World War II
battlefield fare were kindly loaned for exhibit by the Pritzker Military Library. The
World War I uniform on the left and Victory Medal in the "Great War for Civilization"
as well as the complete World War II Army Air Corps flight surgeon's uniform on the right
were assembled by Niles resident and collector Christopher Reuscher to honor the military
career of 99-year old Dr. Irwin Williger who is the oldest participant in the Veterans
History Project at the Niles Library.

 



The items above, including facsimilie cigarettes, matches, and toilet paper as well as such meal rations as Spam were loaned for exhibition by Nancy Houghton, the Director of External Affairs at the Pritzker Military Library at 104 S.Michigan Avenue.