7

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, January 14, 2022 Page 7 MALDEN: TODAY | FROM PAGE 6 into an old ‘tin lizzy’ as they use to call old cars back then, delivering Christmas presents to relatives up in the New Hampshire area. At the last house we visited, only my Uncle Al went in to drop off the gifts. Everyone was tired by then and it was snowing quite a bit with a long way to get home. When Uncle Al came out, he told everyone he had just heard on the radio that the country was at war with Japan. Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor in a sneak attack earlier that day. I remember a lot of discussion about this at fi rst, then grandma and my Aunt Florence started crying and soon, dead silence. Or very hushed tones from the men all the rest of the way home. As a youngster, I had no idea how my life was going to change over the next few years. Growing up in the early years of the 2nd World War life was a special experience by itself along with the other everyday happenings. Such as the time I had scarlet fever and the house on Oakland Street was ‘quarantined.’ A big red sign was posted on the front door, and no one was allowed in or out except the doctor, a visiting nurse, my uncle, and my mother who could go to work. Later because of the war, in school, we practiced evacuating out into the hallways at Beebe Jr. High by sitting against the walls on the fl oor. I guess in the teachers’ naiveté that was how to handle a potential air raid in the early years. I remember being fi ngerprinted. A questionable eff ort at best. But this was all new. Everyone was caught with their ‘pants down’ you might say. Everyone! I remember we all said daily prayers for the men in the services. Back then, you ‘prayed’ in school. We prayed for President Roosevelt too and ‘patriotism’ was accepted as a matter of fact. Everyone was proud to be an American and to do all they could for the war eff ort. I mean, everyone! There was no left or right. No Democrat or Republican. We were all Americans on just one quest. Me and my classmates bought ‘Savings Stamps’ and mounted them in booklets which when full would represent $18.75, the cost of a $25 ‘War Bond.’ I went to ‘Bond Rallies’ in Malden Square where movie actors came to help the war effort by drumming up ‘War Bond’ sales. But the newest phenomenon, the ‘air raid drills’ and the excitement – the loud, shrieking noise of the alarms. Which later became an everyday occurrence when the fi re department took them over after the war for the 9 o’clock curfew alerting the teenagers to get home and off the streets. Your heartbeat would start to race always wondering if this one is real. It didn’t take long for us kids to fi gure out when one was due though. During the summer, when we would go to Revere Beach, we would see big military boats laying anchor off shore with more and more of them being added each day until there would be a ‘blackout air raid drill’ one night. The next day we would see that all the ships had left the harbor on their way overseas, in convoy. Soon we could get to predict a new black out air raid drill coming ourselves. President Roosevelt used to have ‘Fireside Chats’ on the radio, which everyone tuned in to listen. Everyone believed what the President told them, and everyone loved President Roosevelt. I sacrifi ced for the war eff ort along with all my friends and neighbors and lived with rationing. After food rationing took place, you needed ration books to buy a pair of new shoes at Thom McCanns, to buy meat at Freddy Brandano’s on Pearl Street, and for butter and sugar and I think gasoline was rationed at like maybe three gallons a week. I helped grow ‘Victory Gardens.’ Food was in such demand for the armed forces it left a shortage in the markets. I also remember how we collected scrap iron in bins the city erected. When full the city workers would come and empty them, donating the scrap metal to the war eff ort. I recall the ‘Brown Outs’ where all the streetlights had bonnets put on them, so the light shown only directly down to the street. The automobiles had the top half of the headlights painted black to keep the lights low and the factory windows at Converse Rubber and other factories were all painted black. This was called a ‘Brown Out.’ Then there were the ‘Black Outs’ when they would have air raids. The Air Raid Wardens would make sure lights were out in all the houses or at least could not be seen from the street. I learned then that the glow of a cigarette could be seen from the air by enemy bombers. Seems like there was always at least one plane flying overhead in the rays of the search lights during these air raid drills. Practicing, I guess. I remember how the girls couldn’t get ‘nylon stockings.’ All the nylon was being used to build parachutes. How they painted a line up the back of their leg to look like a seam over the leg paint giving the impression of stockings. Teen age clubs became popular during the war with the big bands playing the newest pop songs then but are the classics of today. I used to go dancing with most of my friends at least three times a week. We worked on and perfected our ‘jitterbug.’ To be continued...” Vaccine equity project seeks volunteers for Everett and Malden T he Vaccine Equity and Access Program (VEAP) of Social Capital Inc. (SCI) is seeking members of the Everett and Malden communities to serve as VEAP Leaders to help promote local vaccination clinics this winter. VEAP is a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)–funded project designed to increase public confi dence in the COVID-19 and fl u vaccines. SCI’s VEAP focuses on training trusted community members to encourage people in their network to get vaccinated. Through this project, SCI is working with community leaders to reach people who are at the highest risk of COVID-19. SCI recently expanded its VEAP initiative to serve Everett and Malden, as both communities have been identifi ed by the Department of Public Health as having need for more vaccine equity outreach work. In particular, SCI is seeking to recruit people interested in a VEAP leadership role to encourage participation in the series of upcoming vaccine clinics that have been scheduled. Training and a stipend are available for VEAP leaders. Those tapped for this role will be asked to educate family, friends and neighbors about the vaccines and promote vaccination opportunities at local clinics. Other outreach activities conducted by the leaders will include flier distribution, attending community events with proper COVID-19 precautions, and sharing information about the clinics through social media. SCI is particularly interested in recruiting VEAP leaders who can speak one or more of the following languages: Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole. Please share this opportunity with others who might be a good fi t! Given the current COVID-19 surge, anyone interested in the VEAP program is encouraged to contact VEAP Coordinator Charlie Kwitchoff (ckwitchoff @socialcapitalinc.org) as soon as possible. USA Lawn and Yard Care SNOW PLOWING Driveways From $ 35 * REASONABLE RATES * Prompt, Courteous Service * PARKING LOTS 781-521-9927 100 years of cigar experience OPEN & READY TO SERVE YOU! WE SELL CIGARS & ACCESSORIES Competitive Prices On All Brands, Good Selection R.Y.O. Buy Cigars by the Box & Save! * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many TOBACCO ----------TUBES Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Vapes * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * VARIOUS GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday: 8 AM - 7 PM Sunday & Holidays: 8 AM-6 PM Call

8 Publizr Home