Remembering Christmas Yes, Christmas Was a Red Letter Day for Each and Every One of Our Boys
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Alumni News Winter 2005 – Volume 44, Issue 4 Alumni Mission: We exist to unite and grow our alumni family, and champion the dream and values of Father Flanagan through leadership. Remembering Christmas Yes, Christmas was a red letter day for each and every one of our boys. It was a different Christmas than heretofore enjoyed by our lads. It was a more home-like Christmas in keeping with Father Flanagan’s efforts to make Boys Town a real home. – Boys Town Times December 27, 1940 Throughout Girls and Boys Town’s history, the best memories of Christmas come from the Home that Father Flanagan built. Inside, some of our alumni from every decade share with us their best Christmas memories. Merry Christmas to all of our alumni!! Boys Town kids in the 1940s, as in every decade, looked forward to Christmas Day. www.boystownalumni.org From the Executive Director Dear Alumni, Hashanah and Yom Kippur with members every adult who lives here is dedicated of the nearby Beth El Synagogue. These to helping kids learn and heal. It’s nice As the Christmas sea- were wonderful celebrations of God’s to know there are lots of folks who agree son approaches, I want to forgiveness and healing. Father Flanagan with us! wish each of you a Merry insisted that every child pray because he Work continues on the process Christmas! I look forward knew the power of prayer could change of canonization for Father Flanagan. to my first Christmas here at Girls and our hearts and open us up to God’s plan Know that I support this work and Boys Town. This will be my first year for our lives. We pray that these special pray every day that Father Flanagan lighting the Christmas tree, watching days of prayer lead you beyond yourself will be honored for the work he did to the “Gift of the Magi” play, and singing and invite you to serve others. change the way America cares for her Christmas carols with the kids. In September, Girls and Boys Town children. For this issue, a lot of you sent us was named one of America's 100 Best May you and your families receive your favorite Christmas memories while Communities For Young People. The God’s richest blessings this Christmas. at Girls and Boys Town, and we thank Today Show and Newsweek featured you for them. Our hope is to continue Girls and Boys Town prominent- Sincerely, giving our children the warmth and ly in their coverage of this national memorable Christmases you all enjoyed announcement. This honor comes while here. Please, keep sending us from America’s Promise, a foundation your favorite Christmas story for future started by General Colin Powell that issues. helps communities share ideas and Blessings also to those of you who have learn from each other how to tackle recently celebrated the feast of Ramadan the challenges that face young people. Father Steve Boes and the Jewish High Holy Days. In We have always said that Boys Town is Executive Director October, I was invited to celebrate Rosh the greatest village in the world because Girls and Boys Town BTNAA President Editor Bob Goodrich Graphic Designer Dear Brothers and Sisters, During this joyous season of Christmas Mike Buckley we should all say a prayer of thanks for Contributing Writers The Christmas season the thousands of selfless people who gave Katina Gordon Lindsey Hoch always stirs up my memories us those memories, and if we know where Leah Limbach of holiday times at Boys they are, send a word of appreciation to Tom Lynch Chas Davis Town, the fun we had them for making a difference in our lives. Alumni Advisors during the Twelfth Night, tromping across On behalf of the National Board of John Mollison ’64 the big field in the snow and cold to attend Directors, I wish everyone Merry Christmas Stan Struble ’68 Edwin Novotny ’43 Midnight Mass, then the celebrations of and a healthy Happy New Year. George Buckler ’64 Christmas morning and opening of gifts Printer around the tree. What grand memories Girls and Boys Town Print Shop that were created for us by others! h The Alumni News I think, as the years go by, of the people is published by Bob Nelson, '53 that made those memories happen for Girls and Boys Town President 14100 Crawford St. each and every one of us. I am referring Boys Town, NE 68010 to the counselors, Family-Teachers, and www.boystownalumni.org the staff. Their extra efforts often go [email protected] unrecognized, unknown, and sometimes 1-800-345-0458 unappreciated. (402) 498-1150 Fax: (402) 498-1159 2 ALUMNI NEWS www.boystownalumni.org Warner Home Video Celebrates Holiday Season With Boys Town Warner Home Video cel- ebrates the holiday season with a first-time DVD release of the 1938 Academy Award- winning movie Boys Town. “The Boys Town movie not only shared the power- ful story of Father Flanagan’s work with needy children, it inspired a nation to take up his cause,” said Father Steve Boes, National Executive Director. “Today, Girls and Boys Town continues to unlock miracles in the hearts of children on 19 campuses across the coun- try, and this Warner classic with its message of love, hope, and care continues to be just as relevant and important to contemporary audiences as it was when it was first seen.” “I thought the movie would be popular, but not to this magnitude,” said Hank In 2003, Mickey Rooney visited alumni who played extras in the movie. L-R, Ed Novotny, Tom McGuire, Mickey Rooney with wife Jan, Louis Martinez, John Anthony, Hank Avilla (seated), Charles Ling and Harlan Kopack. Avilla, ’40, who played an extra in the movie with stars Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy. Boys Town and they’re doing some good. As a result people started “I was amazed. The longevity. I think, indirectly, the movie had sending in a dollar here and a dollar there and that certainly con- a great influence on this place because prior to that time we had tinued on. Now you have a beautiful place here for the kids and to difficulty getting something to eat and maintaining this place and carry on Father Flanagan’s dream.” then all of a sudden people started finding out, ‘well gee, there is a DVD Special Features Boys Town DVD • Bonus Movie Sequel: Spencer Tracy Proceeds to Benefit and Mickey Rooney in 1941’s Men of Boys Town Hurricane Katrina • Vintage Short "The City of Evacuees Little Men" Warner Home Video will donate • Archival Newsreel, “Excerpts From proceeds from the DVDs to benefit the Good News of 1939” children and families evacuated from Girls • Boys Town Theatrical Trailer and Boys Town of Louisiana facilities • Men of Boys Town Theatrical Trailer in New Orleans. Standard Retail Price • Boys Town Organization is $19.97. You can order the DVD Promotional Featurette from the Girls and Boys Town Visitors Rating: Not Rated Center by calling toll-free 1-888-556- B&W 5121 or by ordering your DVD online at English: Mono www.helpachildtoday.org. Run Time: 93 Minutes www.boystownalumni.org DECEMBER 2005 3 Father Flanagan House Ready for Christmas Visitors can step back in time this Christmas at Father Flanagan's home. The first floor of the west addition to the home is renovated and ready for Christmas. The three most recently renovated rooms – the din- ing room, his personal office, and the Chapel – received new hardwood floors and paint, both authentic to the time period during which Father Flanagan lived in the home. Family-Teacher Mike Hughes and the boys in his Family Home donated more than 60 hours of work to remove and install the new floors. The boys are proud of their work and look forward to returning to the house during Alumni Conventions to show off their hard work, just as alumni returned to show off the desk they made as a 1939 Christmas gift to Father Flanagan. Tom Lynch, manager of the Hall of History, said future plans call for the renovation of the upstairs to the addition. Rooms will include repre- sentations of a 1920s dormitory room and a current bedroom that youth occupy in today’s homes. Living quarters for nuns who lived in the home during the 1950s, as well as a room decorated for Christmas during that time, also will be future exhibits. The Father Flanagan House with its Christmas decorations will be open to the public beginning the first week of December from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Above) Christmas was celebtrated with a dinner menu consisting of fried chicken, cake, ice cream, muffins, and pumpkin pie. Many of the entrees were a treat because they were served only at Christmas. Volunteers decorated the table and youth made homemade paper decorations. Christmas Day began with church services, with dinner and presents following. Gifts of oranges, apples, and nuts brightened every boy’s face. (Left) Father Flanagan’s office is depicted as it looked in 1943. The cabinet is filled with artifacts from his world travels. Photographs of visitors to Boys Town, as well as former boys, adorn the walls, some in their original handmade frames. The Christmas tree is covered with paper decorations and tinsel, as it would have been in 1943. 4 ALUMNI NEWS www.boystownalumni.org (Left) The Father Flanagan Meditation Chapel at Flanagan House was renovated to portray its look in 1923. Original pews and a painting of the Virgin Mary were placed inside the chapel.