The College Republicans hope to receive 50 submissions.
Courtesy | Josiah Jones
The College Republicans plan to create a commemorative World War II booklet of Hillsdale campus community veterans in what they hope will become a new tradition for their group, said College Republicans President and sophomore Josiah Jones.
“The executive board of College Republicans knew that we wanted to do something commemorating 80 years since our victory over the Axis tyrannies, because such a milestone will only come once,” Jones said.
The project, officially titled “80 Years of Victory: A Salute to Hillsdale College’s World War II Heroes,” will close submissions on Monday, May 12. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to submit their relatives’ names and photos, living or deceased, to the project through a submission form on their Instagram, or by QR code on posters or while tabling. The goal is to distribute the booklet on Sept. 2, which is V-J Day, when Imperial Japan surrendered in 1945, ending World War II.
“So far, we have 40 submissions and we are looking to reach 50 or more,” communications chair and freshman Kathryn Vieceli said. “Many professors have reached out to us with their family members that served, whether living or passed on. We are looking for the name of the veteran, branch served in, and picture, if possible, of the family member or members.”
In addition to obtaining stories of students’ and faculty’s ancestors, the club officers are currently working to obtain a list of alumni who served in World War II from the Hillsdale College Archives and Special Collections. The club is open to expanding the project to the community.
“The main inspiration came from the hometown hero street lamp banners, which many towns do to honor veterans who called the town home,” Jones said. “Since we don’t have street lamp banners here on campus, we decided to do a booklet.”
Sophomore Maria Adamow said she recently submitted the story of her seven great-uncles who all fought in World War II, two of whom obtained Purple Hearts.
“I thought it was so amazing that they thought to honor our relatives in World War II,” Adamow said. “It’s only been 80 years, and we are already forgetting the participation of so many of our family members in this great conflict.”
Adamow said she submitted a family favorite to the project.
“My favorite story to share is about my great-uncle, 1st Lt. Joseph Adamow, who was in the 69th Squadron of the Air Force stationed in Papua New Guinea,” Adamow said. “In August 1944, his plane crashed over KarKar Island and his parachute landed in a tree.”
Her great-uncle was soon rescued by the local tribe, where he lived for three months until he reconnected with his squadron in November 1944.
“He remained friends with one of the natives, ‘PoPo,’ until his death in 1996,” Adamow said. “I think it is beautiful that, though this was a time of tragedy and death, a lifelong friendship was forged between people of vastly different cultures.”
Adamow said this project is a way for the college community to emphasize its values.
“Our veterans could be honored in Hillsdale’s community more, especially because our college consistently shares its commitment to freedom and liberty,” Adamow said. “Without our veterans, we wouldn’t even be able to study here at this wonderful campus. I hope we continue to discuss those we know in the armed forces who protect us every day, and we never forget their importance to our lives that we are privileged to live today.”
