The Women’s Literary Club met Friday at Hill Memorial Church.
President Mary Lou Detweiler called the meeting to order and recognized members celebrating birthdays in October and November. Guests included Sue Bradley and Trudy Gulnac.
The secretary’s report was read and approved. Detweiler reminded members to bring donations for the YWCA Victim Resource Center to the meeting Dec. 1. The Literary Club will participate in Zonta’s annual 16 days of advocacy Nov. 25 through Dec. 10.
Steve Appleby presented a program on the Eldred WWII Museum. Steve is a 1979 graduate of Otto-Eldred High School and served 28 years in the U.S. Army. After learning about WWII, he wanted to join the army. He guarded the Panama Canal, joined the Green Berets in 1984 and served in Central and South America. He was an instructor for JFK special warfare school and following retirement became a recruiter for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
He returned to Eldred in 2006 and became the curator for the museum.
He spends his days teaching young people what real heroes look like and firmly believes that, “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.” He tells his students to stand up to evil and that “you can be anything you want to be.”
He gives books to children encouraging them to read so that history does not repeat itself. He has found in groups of young people visiting the museum that some are curious and there is hope if we can influence the youth.
The museum is located at 201 Main St., Eldred, and features more than 15,000 sq feet of regional and international displays. Admission is free and donations are welcomed. The museum is full of pictures and artifacts from the Civil War, WWI and WWII. The Holocaust exhibit is particularly moving.
Appleby displayed numerous artifacts from the museum such as a gasmask, a prayer scarf and cooking stove, and included a collection of letters, pictures and history from soldiers.
Judy Yorks passed around a sign-up sheet for card day Nov. 10 at the library.
The club thanked Tea Committee members Mary Lou Detweiler, Ann Esch, Martha Rhodes, Martha Torrey, Kay Hurley and Judy Kuntz.
The next program will be Philanthropy Day at noon Nov. 17 at Togi’s. Tom Leposa from Bradford Alliance Church will present “Faith in Furniture” and discuss church collections to be distributed to those in need.
