Spring Message - Director's Message
Spring Message - Director's Message
march, 2025
It is Spring, a glorious time of renewed hope and a time to bloom! May our beleaguered country also flourish and bring its many voices into unity collaborating for the good of all its people.
These times inspire reminiscences of how we enjoyed greatness on the world stage decades ago.
Growing up in World War II, I held a deep pride and love for my country. I loved America! I was seven years old in 1945, when we defeated Hitler’s fascism with the help of our allies. We were heroes! I was in awe of "America the beautiful".
All through those terrible war years, our capacity as a nation for self sacrifice, to unite, to show heroism, was great. We lived, as did most families, glued to the radio for news. We saw Newsreels of the war, called Movietone News, in the local movie theaters.
Although there were sacrifices to make, including the rationing of supplies such as dairy, poultry, meat, tin, leather... it didn’t bring complaints in my family. We were helping the world battle a scary evil.
There were air-raid drills at night. Loud sirens would go off. The city would come to a total halt and drop into complete darkness.
As a child, tucked in bed at night, I was worried about the light in my bedroom closet. A wild grizzly bear lived there… unless the closet light was on. In an air raid drill all the lights in the house were turned off despite the closet light being essential for my safety.
There was a nationwide sense of shared danger and at the same time amazing unity. It was a patriotism hard to describe. Families saw their sons drafted, sent “overseas" to join the "allied front”. Hundreds and thousands of our beloved sons never returned. As our troops moved north with the wartime effort, our mothers knit socks and thick sweaters: “these are for our boys on the Russian front." People feared the draft. The rise of the Reich loomed.
That momentous day of the war’s end, called VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) crowds streamed into Riverside Park We ran to join the celebrating throngs of people. I loved my country with all my child’s heart.
Thousands were pouring into the park, heading for the River, to see our powerful navel fleet— gigantic aircraft carriers— enormous grey battle ships— parade up the river with ear-splitting 21- gun- salutes making an impressive parade on that unforgettable VE Day. People were in tears, embracing strangers, in ecstatic celebration.
“So now do all the people love each other!?”
My mom just kept saying “ Our boys are coming home! Our boys are coming home!”
We were proud of our country.
In this coming season of beauty, we hope to see the America we love blossom, see the true greatness of our national soul flourish and bloom.
Much love,
Rudrani
Recent Posts










