The Volunteer the Volunteer
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v ...and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN TheThe Volunteerolunteer JOURNAL OF THEV VETERANS OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE December 2007 The Bay Area post was serenaded at their annual picnic by Bruce Barthol, Nayo Ulloa, and Heather Bridger, accompanied by vets (left to right) Ted Veltfort, Hilda Roberts, Milt Wolff (in back), Dave Smith, and Nate Thornton (far right). Photo by Richard Bermack. INSIDE Puffin Education Grant, inside cover. CP Archives, page 7. National Monument dedication March 30, page 1. Journalists of the Spanish Civil War, page 9. Winner, National History Day Competition, page 2. Paul Robeson in Spain, Ch. 2, page 11. Vandalism, Dark Side of Memory, page 3. War Medicine, page 14. Spanish Civil War Exhibits, page 4. Book Reviews, page 19. Letter From the Editor The long-dreamed plan for a national memorial to the The Volunteer Abraham Lincoln Brigade is about to be realized. Many Journal of the people deserve special appreciation for the long hours they Veterans of the have put into the project, but what has also emerged is Abraham Lincoln Brigade amazing grassroots support, not only from the usual sus- an ALBA publication pects, but also from people who have not been involved in 799 Broadway, Suite 341 our activities. Contributions small and large have come New York, NY 10003 from unexpected sources. (212) 674-5398 I think that’s because this memorial looks in two direc- Editorial Board tions: to the past and to the future. It is not merely Peter N. Carroll • Gina Herrmann nostalgic, but also historical, and the process continues to Fraser Ottanelli • Abe Smorodin unfold. Book Review Editor The creators of the memorial, Ann Chamberlain and Shirley Mangini Walter Hood, make this point explicitly in the description of Art Director-Graphic Designer their objectives: "To make active the process is perhaps what Richard Bermack is most difficult in art; to enable the viewing of a work to Editorial Assistance become an act of participation or of bearing witness." Nancy Van Zwalenburg “Our challenge,” they go on, “is to create a memory that actively engages and provokes the imagination of Submission of Manuscripts Please send manuscripts by E-mail or on disk. those who visit it. We want to inspire movement; to narrate, E-mail: [email protected] to motivate and to direct observers to listen, understand, and act. We want to create a theater of history in which any people could imagine themselves participating in the story poised to assume this solemn duty. The inauguration of the of Americans so impassioned by their beliefs they gave national memorial in San Francisco this spring and a public their lives in the Spanish Civil War fighting fascism.” event we are planning for next fall will mark this sad but unavoidable transition. At these events, in the presence of Some years ago, the last nationally elected officers of the last remaining veterans of the Abraham Lincoln the VALB drew up a legal agreement providing for ALBA Brigade, ALBA will reaffirm its pledge to honor and per- to become the sole entity to represent the veterans organi- petuate their outstanding legacy. zation beginning in 2008. With their numbers —Peter N. Carroll dwindling—there are 43 vets alive at last count—ALBA is Puffin Foundation Gives $1 Million! In a dramatic gesture of support to ALBA, the orga- Rosenstein, long a supporter of progressive arts, cul- nization’s most loyal and generous benefactor, The tural, and educational projects throughout the country, Puffin Foundation, Ltd. of Teaneck, New Jersey, has stressed the importance of continuing the legacy of announced the creation of a special $1 million fund “to “activism and commitment of the Abraham Lincoln further the cultural and education policies set forth in Brigade as an inspiration for present and future ALBA’s mission statement.” generations.” According to the terms of the new grant, the fund is “This is a tremendous boost to our organization, to be used exclusively for ALBA cultural and educa- promising to continue our recent successes in promot- tional programs, relying primarily on the fund’s annual ing public awareness of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade earnings to underwrite specific projects. through education and outreach programs,” said the Recognizing ALBA’s remarkable expansion during delighted ALBA Chair Peter Carroll. “This gift the past decade, Puffin Foundation President Perry Continued next page The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Memorial: Aiming for March 30 Debut Brigade, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, the San Francisco Mayor’s Office, the Port Commission, the Arts Commission, the City Attorney and our own pro bono counsel, our friends and supporters who helped and sent in monetary contributions, and the two brilliant artists—Ann Chamberlain and Walter Hood—who designed our memorial with its vision of past and future. Come to San Francisco to pay trib- ute to the legacy of those 3,000 women and men who went to Spain to con- front the terrors of fascism. Pay tribute to the 800 who did not come back and to the others whose lives were forever The monument team: (l to r standing) Walter Hood, Judy Montell, Emily Lazarre, Dave Smith, Ann Chamberlain, and Alice Shaw; (seated) Chris Reed, Linda Lustig and changed by the experience of war. Martha Olson-Jarocki. Photo by Peter Glazer. Honor the progressive tradition they embodied. Carry on the legacy of even years of committee meet- Join us! Join this remarkable com- commitment to social justice and ings, another year of contract munity that put together an incredible democracy. Snegotiations—it’s all over but the memorial to the Abraham Lincoln We are still planning the day’s sandblasting and the celebrations. Brigade: The Bay Area Veterans & events, but count on seeing dignitaries March 30, 2008. Write it down! Associates of the Abraham Lincoln from Spain, including Judge Baltasar Garzón (who indicted Chile’s dictator Pinochet), as well as home-grown challenges us to do more than The Puffin Foundation has also celebrities, longtime allies, and we’ve ever done before.” supported the publication of exhi- upstarts you’d like to know. Expect For the past 15 years, the Puffin bition catalogues and special issues entertainment, but solemnity, too. Foundation has encouraged and of The Volunteer, as well as the More details will follow in mail- supported nearly all of ALBA’s ALBA-Susman Lectures, the serial- ings to all, but don’t be shy about projects, including the exhibitions ized graphic story “Paul Robeson telling your friends. “Shouts From the Wall: Posters of in Spain,” and numerous symposia, As John Sayles has said, “in a the Spanish Civil War,” “Aura of panel discussions, and film world run by cynics, in a time when the Cause,” “They Still Draw screenings. caring about someone you’ve never Pictures: Children’s Art in “We are eager to carry the met is seen as weakness or treachery, Wartime,” “The Cultural Legacy of work forward,” said Carroll, “but how much strength have we taken the Abraham Lincoln Brigade,” and clearly we could not do it without from the thought of them, how much most recently, “Facing Fascism: the support of the progressive com- pride and comfort to be able to say, New York & the Spanish Civil munity. We are very grateful to Mr. ‘But what about the guys in the War,” which opens this month in Rosenstein and our supporters at Lincoln Brigade!’” Spain. the Puffin Foundation.” THE VOLUNTEER December 2007 1 Wisconsin Student Wins First Place in National History Day Competition This article is reprinted from the Holmen dad and said, ‘It’s OK. We came and Courier (Wisconsin) with permission of we had fun.’” the River Valley Newspaper Group. But when he heard the emcee say By Adam Bissen / Lee “Cody Haro, Holmen, Wis., first Newspapers place,” Haro said, “I couldn’t believe it. HOLMEN, Wis. — As he sat in the I ran down the steps of the stadium, University of Maryland’s old basket- and I almost fell. It was all a big blur, ball arena and heard the names of two running down there and getting the of the top finishers in the National award.” History Day competition, Holmen For taking first place in the senior High School junior Cody Haro didn’t individual exhibit division, the think he would be returning to National History Day organization Wisconsin with a medal. presented Haro with a gold medal and Yes, his project on American sol- $1,000 monetary award. diers fighting in the Spanish Civil War But the day of accolades didn’t was meticulously researched and took end there. Near the end of the cere- first place in the state finals. But after mony, held June 14, the University of Minnesota presented Haro with an additional award: a $20,000 and black and white photos came out scholarship. wrinkled by the humidity. According to Mary Nugent, Haro’s “So we know Cody’s project didn’t National History Day adviser at win on glitz,” Nugent said. “It won on Holmen High School, Haro is the first the story and his research and his Wisconsin student to take first at the analysis.” national finals. Haro’s project was on the When he began researching his Abraham Lincoln battalion, a group of project last summer, it was Haro’s goal about 3,000 American volunteers who to place at the national competition. fought against fascism during the He spent every weekend for five Spanish Civil War of 1936-39. months with his nose in a book, then In addition to a mountain of created a three-sided display with books, periodicals, radio reports and matted photographs that was as big as published interview transcripts, what contest rules allowed.