Traveling Heinz History Center World War II exhibit lands in Donora
Scott Beveridge/ Observer-Reporter
Sen. John Heinz History Center employees Craig Britcher, right, and Evan Goetz set up a section of a traveling WWII exhibit on Sgt. Michael Strank of Johnstown, who appeared in the famous 1945 Joe Rosenthal photo of Marines raising the U.S. flag in Iwo Jima.
Scott Beveridge/Observer-Reporter
Nicholas David Bunardzya, the first person from Donora to be killed in World War II, in a 1942 story announcing his death in the Donora Herald-American.
DONORA – Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bunardzya were awaiting word in late June 1942 as to the manner of death of their son, who was the first World War II casualty from Donora during World War II.
Little did they know at the time that their son, Airman PFC Nicholas David Bunardzya, died while he and 18 others were being evacuated by heroes and their unarmed plane came under attack by the Japanese and crashed off the island of Java.
Part of his story is being told at the Donora Public Library as the town’s contribution to a traveling Sen. John Heinz History Center exhibit on World War II, which opened Saturday.
“It’s a way to draw attention to Donora,” said Donora Historical Society volunteer Mark Pawelec, referring to the reason his group is cohosting the exhibit.
“It’s a way to give back to the community,” Pawelec added.
The “We Can Do It! World War II” exhibit, which began its journey three years ago in Beaver County, will be at the library, 510 Meldon Ave., through April 7, along with a full schedule of events.
A highlight of those events will be an appearance at 2 p.m. April 5 by Judah Samet, who survived both the Holocaust and the Tree of Life mass shooting last year in Squirrel Hill.
Visitors will learn about the development of the Jeep, a uniquely American invention produced by the American Bantam Car Co. in Butler, and hear the stories behind Rosie the Riveter and the local Tuskegee Airmen whose contributions helped to turn the tide of the war, according to a History Center news release.
The center has a great partnership with Donora, which is the exhibit’s last stop, said History Center staff member Robert Stakeley.
He said the History Center selected Donora library’s basement for the exhibit because it has the space and it’s secure.
“They have a built-in audience,” Stakeley said.
The historical society’s contributions are upstairs as a way to draw people into the library, Pawelec said.
The June 29, 1942, front page of the Donora Herald-American above-the-fold announcement of Bunardzya’s death was framed and displayed in the library.
He was reported missing March 3 of that year, the newspaper reported. He had joined the Air Corps three months after graduating from Donora High School in 1938 and died in the Far East Theater.
His plane had just taken off when it came under attack, crashed into Roebuck Bay, broke apart and sank upon impact with the water, according to the 2014 book, “The Search That Never Was: The Untold Truth about the 1948-49 Search for World War II American Personnel Missing in Action in the South Pacific,” by J.L. Wright.
The exhibit is free and available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Schedule of events during World II traveling exhibit at Donora Public Library:
- Grand opening reception featuring live WWII-era songs by Kylie Santoro Horrell followed by recorded Big Band music. There will be refreshments provided by Donora restaurants and others. Heinz History Center President and CEO Andy Masich will be keynote speaker. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7
- Donora Historical Society member David Lonich will give a presentation, “The Home Front,” at 1 p.m. Feb. 8
- Rostraver Historical Society member Stuart Boyd will give a presentation, “The German Soldier in WWII – Truth or Myth” at 1 p.m. Feb. 15
- Leslie Przybylek, who curated the History Center’s larger WWII exhibit will give presentations at 12:30 and 2 p.m. Feb. 22
- Retired Marine and WWII collector Ron Maxson will give a presentations, “WWII Light Infantry Weapons and “WWII Trivia, Medal of Honor Recipients and Young Marines” at 1 p.m. Feb. 29
- WWII historian Glenn Flickinger will give presentations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 7. The first centers on Omaha Beach and Normandy and the other one is “A Pearl Harbor Nurse’s Aide.”
- Debbie Popp Gilbert of the Elizabeth Historical Society will give a presentation “WWII Fashions on the Home Front and Front Lines” at 1 p.m. March 14. The Donora and Elizabeth societies are also hosting a tea social during this program, with a $10 admission. RSVP by calling 724-823-0364 or emailing donorahistoricalsociety@gmail.com
- Donora American Legion Post 212 (directly across the street from the library) is hosting a breakfast for veterans and collecting oral histories at 9 a.m. March 28. Space is limited. The breakfast is free for veterans and donations are suggested from the general public. RSVP by calling 412-623-9029 or emailing ellie@veteransbreakfastclub.com. Meanwhile, Dorothy Frye Walker of Starkweather Circle Ladies GAR in Monongahela will give a presentation, “A Donora Mill Machinist Family’s WWII Experience” at noon on this date.
- Holocaust survivor Judah Samet who also was outside of Tree of Life in Squirrel Hill last year during a mass shooting will speak at 2 p.m. April 5
- WQED Executive Producer David Solomon will give a presentation on his documentary, “Portraits for the Home Front: The Story of Elizabeth Black,” at 7 p.m. April 7