One young man who has
helped to link past and future generations is MHS senior Jesse
Kling. Working as this year’s intern for the Kemper Memorial
Park Preservation Fund, Jesse interviewed four local veterans,
John Hanway, Stanley Plesent, Sheldon Evans and Joe Germano,
about their World War II experiences. The interviews were taped
and submitted to the Library of Congress for its Veterans
History Project. Preliminary discussions were followed up with
background research on each veteran’s experiences. The research
helped to refine the questions asked in the formal interviews.
After the interviews were taped, they were annotated and
submitted to the Library of Congress. Thanks to Jesse’s
painstaking work, it is now possible for future researchers to
go directly to a specific point of interest in each of the two
hour interviews.
For Jesse, this
project was an enlightening historical experience that covered
both the European and Pacific Theatres in World War II. But,
perhaps more importantly, this project allowed Jesse to see into
the hearts and souls of four young men who served their country
and the free world in its time of need.
The Kemper Memorial
Park Preservation Fund is grateful to both Jesse and the
veterans for their meaningful contributions to the World War II
History Project. Their contributions now have a permanent place
in our nation’s archives and will help to link past and future
generations.