Donora library to host Heinz history center's traveling World War II exhibit

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Donora library to host Heinz history center's traveling World War II exhibit

Patrick Varine | Friday, January 24, 2020 2:07 p.m.

AP Photo, File

In this Dec. 1944 file photo, German infantrymen pass by burning captured American vehicles during the drive into Allied lines on the Western Front during the Battle of the Bulge. It was 75 years ago that Hitler launched his last, desperate attack to turn the tide for Germany in World War II. At first, German forces drove so deep through the front line in Belgium and Luxembourg that the month-long fighting came to be known as The Battle of the Bulge. When the Germans asked one American commander to surrender, the famous reply came: “Nuts!” By Christmas, American troops had turned the tables on the Germans.

In the run-up to the 75th anniversary of World War II’s ending this fall, the Donora Historical Society and Donora Public Library will co-host the traveling World War II exhibit from the John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.

For historical society volunteer Mark Pawelec, it’s a chance not only to provide an opportunity for both students and veterans, it is a chance to show off Donora when the exhibit opens Feb. 1.

“For us, it’s a way to bring people to our town,” Pawelec said. “It’s an old steel town and, sometimes, people might not necessarily associate it with arts and culture. But, we feel like we have that, and it comes through things like this.”

“We Can Do It! — WWII,” which will be housed in the community room at the Donora Public Library, features not just informational panels about the war that took the lives of more than 405,000 American military personnel, but also four lifelike museum figures of Gen. George C. Marshall, Tuskegee Airman and Western Pennsylvania native Lt. Carl Woods, Sgt. Michael Strank who grew up near Johnstown, and the “Rosie the Riveter” character.

In addition, Pawelec and the historical society lined up local presenters who will discuss different aspects of the conflict during the exhibit’s run, which concludes April 7.

“We think that’s kind of what makes us unique,” Pawelec said. “We do supplement the exhibit with presentations and other programs over its nine weeks.”

The exhibit is free, but there is a suggested donation. While it officially opens Feb. 1, a Feb. 7 grand opening at 11 a.m. will include a performance of era-appropriate songs by Kylie Santoro Horrell, owner of the Strive Performing Arts Center in Belle Vernon. The opening also will include “A Taste of Donora,” featuring hors d’oeuvres by local chefs.

On March 28, there will be a Veterans Breakfast Club event at the Donora American Legion, directly across the street from the exhibit. The nonprofit will host a free breakfast for veterans in furtherance of its goal of collecting vets’ oral histories

Another highlight of the exhibit’s run will be a discussion with Judah Samet of Pittsburgh, a survivor of both the Holocaust and the Tree of Life shooting in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

He will be the featured speaker at 2 p.m., April 5. Click here for the full schedule of events.

“It’s involving our community, people and businesses from Donora,” Pawelec said. “We also chose the spring because, if we’re going to host visits from school groups, we needed time for schools to get those trips approved and set up their bus schedules.”

The library is at 150 Meldon Avenue in Donora. For more on the exhibit, see DonoraLibrary.com and click on the “We Can Do It! WWII Schedule of Events” link.

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