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Display honors US heroes
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William d Lewis the Vindicator Ken Miller Trusteeof the Girard Historical Society, shows a Marine uniform on display at the Barnhisel House in Girard as part of military uniform exhibit.7-18-11.
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Carley O’Neill, librarian of Girard Historical Society, holds the hat worn by Ruth E. Rulli (1908-2008) of Girard, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Boston Fighter Wing. Her uniform also is shown.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
GIRARD
From the battle- front to work and play on the homefront, a Girard Historical Society display commemorates it all.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that some 900 veterans of World War II die daily. At the end of the WWII, 1939-45, there were 16 million veterans. That number has dwindled to 2 million.
That’s a reason why Girard Historical Society members thought it was important to assemble a display to honor military heroes.
Carley O’Neill, society librarian, said the loss of so many veterans means the loss of so much firsthand information and even memorabilia. The historical society’s display is a way to preserve part of the past. She said fourth- graders from Girard schools tour the Barnhisel House and its displays as a way to share the city’s heritage and history.
Among items in the exhibit is the women’s Army Air Corps uniform of Ruth E. Rulli (1908-2008), a long-time Girard resident who operated a toy and children’s apparel store and also was choral director at Girard Senior Center.
O’Neill said the story goes that Rulli wanted to serve her country so much, she started divorce proceedings from her husband, Frank, because at that time married women couldn’t enlist. Ruth Rulli served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Boston Fighter Wing, during WWII. She did serve her country, O’Neill said, but it cost her personally. A faulty gas mask left Rulli with gas poisoning and she received a medical discharge. However, she and her husband remained together.
Rulli, who was among the 150,000 women who served in the military during the WWII era, was a forerunner for the thousands of women who now serve in the U.S. military.
There’s also a U.S. Army uniform of William Stambaugh and a U.S. Marine Corps uniform from Tom Woodford.
Ken Miller, a society trustee, said he provided memorabilia from his dad, Alden Miller, who was in the military police and served in Europe, including at the Battle of the Bulge. The WWII soldier also was stationed with General Dwight Eisenhower’s headquarters.
Another unique part of the exhibit are two children’s patriotic games — cutouts from 1942 featuring military uniforms and equipment such as tanks and planes.
There’s also a list of patriotic duties — buying U.S. savings bonds, rationing of gas, food and shoes, cultivating a Victory Garden, knitting bandages, donating to metal and tire drives, supporting the USO and displaying banners at homes.
One corner is devoted to Nazi memorabilia, O’Neill said, adding that society members weighed whether to include the items. But, she said, in the end it was decided that such articles are part of history though they are offensive to some. There is a flag with swastika, German and Japanese bayonets and a piece of cloth from a German fighter plane.
From the media, The Vindicator is represented through a variety of pre-war headlines including “Roosevelt Calls on Hitler Not to Start War” from Sept. 26, 1938, and “Blast Sinks Nazi Ship in U.S. Harbor” from Nov. 4, 1938. There also are Chesterfield cigarette ads featuring mlitary personnel and “Rosie the Riveter.”
The death of Robert Dupola, 27, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Prodnick of Trumbull Road, chronicles the first war fatality from Girard. A lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he graduated from Girard High School, attended Ohio State University and worked at Carnegie llinois Steel Corp., McDonald Works. A telegram from the U.S. War Department reported he died in a plane crash July 15, 1942.
From the Girard News, society members compiled a book of clippings on Girard residents who served in various branches of military.