Peters Township library to host D-Day event
McMURRAY – George Dvorznak is a self-admitted military history buff. He is also a U.S. Army veteran and former board member of the Peters Township Public Library.
And with the 72nd anniversary of D-Day – when the Allies stormed the beach at Normandy and changed the direction of World War II – just around the corner, Dvorznak and volunteers from his World War II discussion group have gathered military artifacts from their personal collections and will display them from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. June 6 at the library. The public is welcome.
“Having this D-Day exhibit at the public library is a wonderful way for us to honor the people who have been called ‘the greatest generation’ by bringing their stories to life with memorabilia and artifacts,” Myra Oleynik, library director, said. “It’s one way to surely bridge any generation gap.”
Dvorznak said the exhibit will include ration books, Civil Defense helmets and Rosie the Riveter posters, all part of the war effort at home. Also included will be World War II weaponry from the American, German, British and Canadian armies, plus, four or five mannequins outfitted in field uniforms from the four nations.
“We are focusing on the armies actually involved in D-Day,” Dvorznak said.
Outside the library, there will be two World War II vehicles owned by discussion group members. One of the vehicles is a 1940 Dodge pickup truck used as a weapons carrier. The other is a World War II jeep that includes a trailer.
In conjunction with the D-Day exhibit, the Peters Township Middle School will host a panel discussion featuring four World War II veterans, all of whom were at the invasion of Normady on June 6, 1944.
The discussion will be led by Mt. Lebanon resident Todd DePastino, who teaches history at Waynesburg University. DePastino is also the executive director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, a nonprofit which hosts monthly breakfast meetings for veterans to share information.
“The point of the program at the middle school is to honor these veterans and have them tell their stories to the kids,” Dvorznak said.