Honoring History
The Peters Township Public Library pays tribute to the United States’ entrance into WWI.
By Nicole Tafe
Countries around the world have been honoring the past, as millions remember the First World War in various ways during its 100th anniversary year. Peters Township Public Library will be doing its part to acknowledge and honor the United States’ entry into the world-changing event by hosting the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History’ s“ World War I and America” exhibit in August.
“ World War I and America” is a two-year initiative of the Library of America and is presented in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the National World War I Museum and Memorial, and several other organizations, with generous support from The National Endowment for the Humanities.
Grants were awarded to 120 organizations across the country. The grant value is $ 1,800 and designed to cover two to three public programs that explore WWI and its resonance today. Peters Township Library was additionally awarded a traveling exhibit, created by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History that will be on display in the library’ s lobby for three weeks in August. Approximately 40 sites received a full grant award, while the remaining received awards valued at $ 1,200. With only five sites participating in this project across Pennsylvania, the Peters Township Public Library is one of only three sites in the state to receive the exhibition.
The grant was written and applied for by 17-year Peters Township employee Margaret Deitzer. Deitzer and her husband have resided in Peters Township for 24 years. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a B. A. in Political Science and holds a master’ s degree in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh.“ I first learned about the grant when Stephanie Townrow of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History sent me an email in early May 2016,” says Deitzer, who then approached Library Director Myra Oleynik for permission to apply. Deitzer soon set to work with the assistance of George Dvorznak, Todd DePastino, the Veterans Breakfast Club and representatives from McMurray VFW Memorial Park Post 764.
Deitzer learned that the award and exhibition had been granted to the Peters Township Public Library in August of last year.“ As grant recipients, we received a‘ World War
April 2, 1917: President Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.
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