Three World War II veterans and members of five local historical societies were special guests on Aug. 15 as Cal U celebrated Community Night at the We Can Do It: World War II traveling exhibition, which is on display on the third floor of Manderino Library through Oct. 5.
Edward Sikora holds a portrait of himself during World War II. The portrait is on display in Manderino Library.
The Cal U exhibition includes a display from the Senator John Heinz History Center that offers a regional perspective. A room full of artifacts from the University community and the historical societies provides a local look at the war overseas and the efforts on the homefront.
“This is beautiful — a very nice display,” proclaimed Edward J. Sikora — a 1949 graduate of California State Teachers College and an industrial arts professor here for 29 years — as he toured the exhibit, which includes a picture of Sikora as a young man serving in the 502nd Anti-aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion in the Pacific Theater.
World War II veterans Armand Lorenzi and Curtis Prest also attended Community Night. Prest served in the Panama Canal Zone. Lorenzi was a member of Patton's Third Army.
The Donora Historical Society, Brownsville Historical Society, California Area Historical Society, Greater Monessen Historical Society, Fayette County Historical Society, the Coal and Coke Heritage Center, and Penn State Fayette have all loaned items to the library.
The displays include personal letters, photographs, medals, helmets and foot lockers.
“One part of our mission statement is to educate the public,” said Mary Beth Graf, president of the California Area Historical Society, “and another part is to preserve local history. This part of the World War II exhibit is very personal.”
Leslie Przyblek, senior curator of history at the Heinz History Center, was the lead curator for the We Can Do It: World War II exhibition when it opened in Pittsburgh.
“This is exactly the kind of response we hope to see when we work with other organizations,” she said of the collaboration with Cal U and the local historical societies. “This extends the reach and brings so much wonderful attention to the collections of the groups who worked together on this display.
“Seeing all these contributions is good for my curatorial soul!” she added with a smile.
Some of the Donora Historical Society’s material focuses on roles of women and the steel mills of the Monongahela Valley during the war.
“The role of women who worked in the mills when the men went off to war is something people may not be aware of,” said volunteer Mark Pawelec, a 1981 Cal U alumnus. “We have honor rolls that hung in the mills of guys who went off to serve. The number of names is mind-boggling.”
The Donora Historical Society will host the We Can Do It: World War II traveling exhibition in 2020. The Fayette County Historical Society was the host earlier this year.
Exhibition Hours
We Can Do It! WWII, a traveling exhibition, is open to the public through Oct. 5 in Manderino Library. Admission is free. Hours are:
- Through Aug. 24: Noon-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Aug. 27-Oct. 2: noon-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday;1-5 p.m. Sunday.
- Closed Labor Day weekend.
Pay-by-meter parking is available in campus lots 11 and 17. Details: library.calu.edu/WWII
Special Events
- 8:30 a.m. Aug. 23, Kara Alumni House: A Welcome Home Breakfast is open to those who have served in any branch of the U.S. armed services. A special tour of the World War II exhibition will follow. Tickets are required for breakfast. Veterans should call 724-938-4076 or email veterans@calu.edu.
- Noon-1 p.m. Sept. 12, Manderino Library, Room 208: Dr. David Lonich, a retired social studies teacher and former adjunct professor at Cal U, will discuss life in America during World War II.
- Noon-1 p.m. Sept. 14, Manderino Library, Room 208: Americans who experienced the war as civilians will join Dr. Charles Stacey, a member of the Donora Historical Society, to share memories and take audience questions.