Halloween this year has many comparisons to that which went on during WWII, but there were no episodes of mass destruction in the cities as I have seen in Philadelphia.
WWII put quite the damper on any activity as chaotic as Halloween was back in those days, people weren’t making heroes out of criminals … according to history, war shortages made everyone edgy, and towns clamped down on Halloween pranking with both curfews and notices sent home from principals and police. There was a national plea for conservation: any piece of property damaged during Halloween pranking was a direct affront to the war effort.
In 1942 the Chicago City Council voted to abolish Halloween and institute instead “Conservation Day” on October 31st. (This wasn’t the only attempt to reshape Halloween: President Truman tried to declare it “Youth Honor Day” in 1950 but the House of Representatives, sidetracked by the Korean War, neglected to act on the motion. In 1941 the last week of October was declared “National Donut Week,” and then years later, “National Popcorn Week.”)
A day for dressing up.
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when it was believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead become blurred. It has since evolved into a holiday when spooky legends, myths and folklore take center stage—each with their own dark history.
The first Halloween during WWII was in 1942, when the nation was in full-tilt war production mode and millions of men were in uniform. Children and teenagers were suddenly set free from adult supervision, as mothers and fathers spent more time working or away from home altogether. There were widespread fears of juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior. Fear was a dominant emotion during the war years and the vandalism one might expect on Halloween now seemed to portend greater crimes. Many communities did, in fact, cancel Halloween that year.
Some folks saw the opportunity to co-opt, rather than ban, the holiday by hosting costume parties, dances, etc. to lure the would-be delinquents off the streets and into safer environments. (Still not much candy available though, due to the rationing of sugar.) It worked. Halloween vandalism feel off in 1942 and after the war, neighborhoods began hosting a kind of roving festival for kids – trick-or-treating.
For templates to create your own military pumpkins ___ CLICK HERE!!
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James Blaney – Milwaukee, WI; US National Guard, Major General (Ret.)
Eric Bunger – Sioux Falls, SD; US Army, Afghanistan & Iraq, Sgt., 82nd Airborne Division
Christopher Crossett – Philadelphia, PA; US Army, WWII, ETO, Silver Star, Purple Heart
Alpha Farrow – Lindsay, OK; US Army, WWII, ETO, Pvt., 10th Mt. Division / Vietnam & Korea, Chaplain, Col. (Ret.)
Morgan Garrett – Weddington, NC; US Coast Guard, Ensign
William Hinchey – Middletown, RI; USMC, WWII, CBI
Duane T. Kyser – Muskogee, OK; US Navy, WWII, Seaman 2nd Class, USS Oklahoma, KIA (Pearl Harbor)Rhiannon Ross – Waxom, MI; US Navy, Lt.
David Mansfield (100) – Thorold, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII
Carlisle Trost – Valmeyer, IL; US Navy, Naval Academy grad ’53, 23rd Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral (Ret. 37 y.)
Walter S. Wojtczak (105) – Newbury, NH; US Army, WWII, Major, Corps of Engineers
Thanksgiving during WWII…
They’re celebrating Thanksgiving on this very day, My thoughts are at home, though I’m far away; I can see everyone, eating dinner deluxe, Whether it be chicken, turkey or even duck; The fellows over here won’t whimper or moan, They’ll look to the next one and hope to be home. Truly and honestly, from way down deep, They want you to be happy and enjoy your feast. These holidays are remembered by one and all, Those happy days we can always recall. The ones in the future, will be happier, I know When we all come back from defeating the foe._______Poem by an Anonymous WWII Veteran
Click on images to enlarge.
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Shirley Baltz – Hammonton, NJ; US Navy WAVES, WWII
Sam Cartner – Asheville, NC; US Army Air Corps, WWII, B-24 tail gunner
Edward Ferguson – Petersburg, IL; US Army, WWII, Korea
courtesy of Cora Metz poster designs.wordpress.cm/, US Army
William Gray – Kent, WA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, LT., 391/366th Fighter Group. KIA
Charles ‘Hap’ Holladay – Cookeville, TN; US Army Air Corps, WWII, meterologist
Henry Karwas – MI; USMC, WWII, PTO
William Richardson – Ivey, GA; US Army, WWII, 95th Division
Melvin Stone – Portland, ME; US Army, WWII, ETO, 187th Combat Engineers
Mel Tillis – Pahokee, FL; US Air Force
Harold Tor – Huntington Beach, CA, US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 11th Airborne Division, Purple Heart
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God Bless Our Troops
THE SOLDIER’S POEM
When this is over And we come home again,
Forget the band
And cheers from the stand;
Just have the things
Well in hand –
The things we fought for.
UNDERSTAND?
_____Pfc C.G. Tiggas
♣
♥
ONLY A SAILOR
He’s only a sailor on the boundless deep, Under foreign skies and tropical heat. Only a sailor on the rolling deep, In summer rain and winter sleet.____Unknown
Parades and picnics!!
Even the kids got involved!
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Kenneth Alsdurf – Syracuse, NE; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 11th Airborne Division
Phyllis Cox Birney – Floral City, FL; Civilian US Army & Air Force employee (Ret.)
Ray Flow – Broadway, NC; US Army
Dick Hickman – Louisville, KY; US Air Force, Vietnam, MSgt. (Ret), Bronze Star
Paul Hubble (103) – W.Palm Beach, FL; US Navy, WWII
Jack Jennings – Bronx, NY; US Army Air Corps, WWII, Lt.Col. (Ret. 30 yr.), fighter pilot
Cyril Maceyka – Waltham, MA; USMC, WWII, PTO
Oiva Pakka – Butte, MT; US Army Air Corps, WWII, CBI, 1st LT., B-29 navigator
Kenneth Steele – Kansas City, MI; US Navy, WWII, ETO
Franklin Trapkin – Ramsey, NJ; US Army, WWII
Robert Uhlman – Des Moines, IA; USMC, WWII, PTO
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For those who are unaware, the significant date marks 176 years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, when representatives of the British Crown met with more than 500 Maori chiefs in Waitangi, Northland, to sign what is considered to be New Zealand’s founding document.
Each year in Tauranga, local kaumatua and kuia (elders), supported by rangatahi (young people) and clergy from community church groups, have joined together on Waitangi Day for a dawn service.
In some places around New Zealand, other re-enactments are done as a form of education to younger people of all heritages. Festivals and concerts dominate some centres, and the remaining people tend to soak up the summer weather along the many beaches of New Zealand.
On 6 February, at dawn, a service with a haka (Maori ancestral dance) will be performed at Mount Drury, NZ.
The service starts with a karakia (blessing) by tangata whenua (people of the land) followed by a community service and open forum, giving participants an opportunity to share their thoughts about Waitangi Day.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Carlton Appleby – Ontario, CA; USMC, Korea, Lt., 7th Marines
Glenn Berlin – Wichita, KS; US Navy, WWII
Mildred Drake – DeKalb, IL; US Navy WAVE
William Hushing – Palm Bch Gardens, FL; US Navy, WWII, RAdmiral (Ret.)
Kenneth Just – Louisville, KY; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 674th Artillery/11th Airborne
Walter Klock – St. Johnsonville, NY; US Navy, WWII, PTO, LST signalman
Alfred McElroy – Greenville, KY; US Army, Korea, 187th RCT (Ret. 21 years)
Ronald “Mugs” McKeown – San Diego, CA; US Navy, Capt. (Ret.), 1st Top Gun Commander
Earl Robertson – Spokane, WA; US Army, WWII, ETO
Ennis Warren – Mobile, AL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, B-17 Top-turret gunner
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Nov 26
This gallery contains 16 photos.
Originally posted on Pacific Paratrooper:
TO SHOW MY THANKS TO ONE AND ALL… For my previous Thanksgiving posts – CLICK HERE and HERE! What was seen on the home front 1941-42… Thanksgiving during WWII… They’re celebrating Thanksgiving on this very day, My thoughts are at home, though I’m far away; I can see everyone, eating dinner…
While you enjoy your bar-b-ques and fireworks – take a moment to remember the troops that made it all possible for it to happen today.
With thanks to the people at Net Animations.net
***
To view my previous July 4th posts, click HERE
And Here!!
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Red Skelton’s Pledge of Allegiance!! Very Impressive!!
From Doc & CJ at I Married an Angel.
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The USN Topside Brass Band entertained the public in Port Louis, Mauritius with New Orleans rhythms.
From: Mike Sinnot
Please remember that fireworks can also spark PTSD reactions in some of the wounded troops. Be considerate. Thank you. ###############################################################################
James D. Collins III- Sylacauga, AL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO}body returned home
Clay Evans – Knoxville, TN; USMC, PTO }body returned home
Walter D. Ehlers – Junction City, KS; US Army, WWII, ETO, D-Day Medal of Honor
Calvin Garber – Rochester, NY; US Army, WWII
Robert Gewinner – Jupiter, FL; US Navy, WWII, PTO, USS Porterfield, TF-38/58, 40mm gunner
Leo Hannan – Anchorage, AK; US Army, Korea, 25th Infantry Div/5th RCT
Betty Johnson – Spokane, WA; US Women’s Marine Corps, WWII Howard Pieper – Holland, MI; US Army, Korea
Aubrey Rushing – Medesto, CA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 187th/11th A/B
John R. Smith – Blackwell, OK; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, artillery #############################################################################
A PROUD DAY IN JUNE – FLY THOSE FLAGS !!!
For this years Flag Day, I chose to help celebrate the Star Spangled Banner’s 200 years! As national treasures go, it was a bargain: $405.90 was paid to Mary Pickersgill of Baltimore, who fashioned it from red, blue and undyed wool, plus cotton for the 15 stars to fly at the fortress guarding the city’s harbor.
A collage of 2 women, 1914, at the Smithsonian working to restore the Star-Spangled Banner in a room with a model of a giant squid; by Terry Winters.
An enormous flag, 30 by 42 feet, it was intended as a bold statement to the British warships that were certain to come. And, when in September 1814, the young United States turned back the invaders in a spectacular battle witnessed by Francis Scott Key, he put his joy into a verse published first as “Defense of Fort M’Henry,” and then, set to the tune of…
View original post 201 more words
TO SHOW MY THANKS TO ONE AND ALL…
What was seen on the home front 1941-42…
Thanksgiving during WWII…
They’re celebrating Thanksgiving on this very day, My thoughts are at home, though I’m far away; I can see everyone, eating dinner deluxe, Whether it be chicken, turkey or even duck; The fellows over here won’t whimper or moan, They’ll look to the next one and hope to be home. Truly and honestly, from way down deep, They want you to be happy and enjoy your feast. These holidays are remembered by one and all, Those happy days we can always recall. The ones in the future, will be happier, I know When we all come back from defeating the foe._______Poem by an Anonymous WWII Veteran
Thanksgiving for the troops 1941-42…..
For those of you who live where there is no official Thanksgiving day – look around – family, friends and life itself is enough to be thankful for this evening and…
TO ALL!
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Paul Baio – Chicago, IL; US Navy, WWII
Warren Dowling – Arcata, CA; US Army, WWII, Purple Heart
Mary Porter Gens – DE & NJ – US WAVE, WWII
James Hatcher – Lynchburg, VA; US Army, WWII, 157th Reg./45th Div., Bronze Star & Purple Heart
Donald Miller – NPalm Bch., FL; US Army, WWII, Captain
Matt Spagnola – Waupaca, WI; US Army, WWII
George Taylor – Lufkin, TX; US Army, WWII
Lloyd Yingling – Hendersonville, NC; US Army, WWII, PTO, Medical Corps
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Smitty - artwork by Priorhouse.wordpress.com/
Our Silent Observer
Jeep crossing
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