A Glance at the Past - May

We left our church family along with our Girard neighbors, and all of America – mourning the death (on April 12th } of our President, Franklin D Roosevelt  - praying for our new President, the former Vice President Harry S Truman – rejoicing at the news from Germany where our troops had met with the Russian allies on April 25th, cutting the German Army in two – then hearing that the Russians had taken Berlin – also receiving the news but not exactly rejoicing that Adolf Hitler and his new bride (his longtime mistress) Eva Braun had committed suicide together on April 30th and had their bodies burned rather than surrender to the Russian troops.  So much was happening so fast in the last week of April of 1945.
Now, it was May of ’45 seventy-five years ago.  In Europe, it seemed that all the important officers of the German Army wanted to surrender to the United States troops, not the Russians.  On May 3rd, Rocket scientist Werner von Braun and his team of 120 members would surrender to U S forces.  We would hear his name years later at the forefront of our space program.  Then on May 5th, the US 11th Armored Division liberated the prisoners of the Mauthausen concentration camp.  Among those liberated was another name we would hear of later.  Simon Wiesenthal had been imprisoned by the Germans {for the crime of being Jewish) in six different concentration camps.  Each time as our troops got near the camp, the Germans would forcefully march the prisoners to another one further in Germany.  During these forced marches many prisoners died.  Finally, when they were liberated, many, including Simon, were in desperate condition. When he was finally safe, and restored to health, he dedicated the remainder of his life to hunting down Nazis who had fled to other countries and were hiding from their criminal pasts.  He acquired quite a reputation for his successful hunts, before his death at age 96 in 2005.

On Friday, May 4th, the Girard News announced two new Girard casualties.  One boy died in Germany and another was wounded.  Meanwhile, German armies were surrendering en masse.  On Tuesday morning, May 8th, at 9 AM, President Truman announced that Germany had officially surrendered, and this date, May 8, 1945, would be known hence as V.E. Day (Victory in Europe Day).    The May 11th edition of the Girard News headlined that “Girard Takes Proclamation Calmly” and that “Stores and Offices close, Church Services Crowded”.  The News also announced that two Girard men had been liberated from German Prison Camps.

The May 18th edition of the News announced that 113 Seniors would receive their High School Diplomas on May 31st .  Also, it reported two more Girard boys were released from German Prison Camps.  The May 25th Edition announced Plans for the annual Memorial Day service which would begin on Monday at 9 AM on the viaduct with the throwing of the wreath from the bridge to honor the Naval dead.  Then it would form up for the march to the cemetery scheduled for 10 AM.  W, J. Moore would be the speaker at the cemetery. 
In closing this month’s blog, I would like to share with you an editorial from the Girard News that reflects the feelings I have expressed over the past four years writing about WWII in Girard.  It is entitled “Girard Area Great War Contributions”. 
            “Girard and Liberty Township have made one of the most outstanding contributions to war victory of any area of similar population in this country.
            That statement holds water, from whatever angle one wishes to discuss it.
            More than ten per cent of those in service from this area have suffered casualties.  The U. S. as a whole has suffered only seven per cent casualties.  Thus, the sacrifices from this area have been greater.

 Our fighting men have fought the battle of freedom in every part of the globe. In every battle, on all seas, and in every type of job offered by the armed forces; and no matter where they have served, they have given superb accounts of themselves.  They have won practically every honor the nation can bestow – medals by the thousands, true testimonials to their patriotism and bravery.  No sons in the world are better than those of Girard and Liberty!  Let us not forget that.
What Have the Home Folks Contributed?
            Per Capita, possibly as much or more than other communities!
            Every patriotic cause has received overwhelming support – Red Cross drives and programs, USO fund drives, paper drives, scrap drives, rubber drives, old clothes drives.

Our industries, labor and management, have contributed so much war materiel that one can honestly say:  VE Day would not be here, were it not for the war effort of the Girard-McDonald area.  Management and Labor have been harmonious.  They have worked extremely long hours.  Together they have won numerous Treasury Department War Bond Flags for 100% participation in Payroll deduction War Bond purchases. The local picture has been unmarred by discord or strikes.
But the War Isn’t Over Yet!
           
With Victory in Europe now an actuality, there should be a guiding thought constantly with us – to do everything in our power to continue working for victory over the Japs!  A hesitation in our efforts will mean a prolonged war and the loss of many more lives.  Let us carry on with “full steam ahead” until victory is ours!
To Immortalize the Honor of Our Service Men and Women!
          If Girard is to remember all who served in this war, let that expression be a living memorial, whether it be a hospital, a civic center, or what.  It should be something available to all people whenever necessary or whenever desired.  It should have engraved on its walls the names of all who served in this war, so our service men and women will be forever immortalized!”
 
We know that the Girard News Editor’s idea for a memorial never quite came to the grand fruition he hoped for.  However, the Girard City War Memorial, just across the street from our church’s side entrance, has that long list of names and it is available anytime, day or night, summer or winter, for you to view.  It sits in front of the Girard City Building, which houses the city offices and the municipal court.  In the rear is the City Gym which serves many members of the public for basketball games and other recreational activities. I don’t know if this Memorial Day, the Legion and the VFW will be able to have a ceremony of Wreath Laying, Taps, a parade to the cemetery and further ceremonies and Taps, probably not. But, sometime in the future, when we all meet together to worship in our beautiful church building, you ought to journey across the street to look at those names, which now include, unfortunately, names from subsequent wars as well – all of whom made the ultimate sacrifice for us. 
This was our church, our community, and our country – May of 1945, seventy-five years ago.