Scout heeds Congress’ call to document vets’ memories

Correspondent

By jeanette eng

Scout heeds Congress’ call
to document vets’ memories


Nick Taubenslag of East Brunswick with Sal Mule, a resident of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Edison, during the Sept. 28 interview.Nick Taubenslag of East Brunswick with Sal Mule, a resident of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Edison, during the Sept. 28 interview.

EAST BRUNSWICK — Patriotism has become a household word these days. Duty to our country has been made manifest in bumper stickers, pins, flags, speeches, ceremonies and in the individual acts of American citizens.

One such citizen, Nick Taubenslag, a junior at East Brunswick High School, decided to channel his patriotism into a yearlong project, which culminated Sept. 28.

In some respect, the project began in October 2000 when the U.S. Congress created the Veterans History Project. Congress, knowing our veteran population fades by 1,500 each day, realized the value of a national collection of personal histories. In an effort to document these wartime memories and also engage the American public in its own history, Congress called on the nation to help create this new national collection.

By the fall 2001, Nick was at a turning point in his Boy Scout career. After seven years, he had come upon the challenge of becoming an Eagle Scout — but he needed a project that would make him worthy of the rank.

At the time, he had been reading Was God on Vacation, a novel by Jack VanderGeest that chronicled the life of a man following his escape from a Netherlands concentration camp to his passage to America and his decision to fight the Nazis as an American soldier. The novel stirred something in Nick. Shortly thereafter, the events of Sept. 11 solidified his desire to do something for his country.

"It was at this point," Nick said, "that I knew I wanted to do something with veterans."

Nick’s father, Dominic Arminio, tied it all together. After coming across an article in the American Association for Retired People (AARP) magazine about the newly established Veterans History Project, he approached Nick about the idea. Nick seized the rare opportunity to serve his country and tackle his Eagle project.

Over the next year, Nick began volunteering at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, Edison, and planning the effort to document their histories.

"When I first began volunteering, I was not prepared for what I saw, but the experience taught me to look into the person and see his story," said Nick, speaking about the disabled veterans. All the while with his project in mind, he also worked closely with the veterans’ home director of volunteer services, Christine McNulty.

The year’s planning consisted of enlisting sponsors and volunteers to donate their services and goods. Among the sponsors were Quick Chek, Bagel Express, Dunkin’ Donuts and Entenmann’s for their breakfast goods, GSK for their office supplies and Staples for their bookbinding services.

With help from those sponsors, 37 volunteers including fellow Scouts, family and friends, and the 27 veterans interested in participating, the project was ready. The group gathered at the veterans home the morning of Sept. 28. The day opened with a big breakfast, and ultimately 27 stories were shared and recorded.

Among them was that of Frank Ponza, a prisoner of war in Nazi Germany from December 1944 to April 1945, who recalled passing much of the time talking about food. They would eat soup every day, but food would soon be withheld from all prisoners for a time because the Germans falsely believed one of the POWs was trying to escape.

Another WWII veteran, Thomas Gorman, was a torpedo man in a submarine who didn’t see daylight for 11 consecutive weeks. The crew wasn’t allowed to flush the toilet, he recalled, for fear of making bubbles. Gorman told of striking a Japanese aircraft carrier with a torpedo.

"The chance to share is almost therapeutic for the veterans," McNulty said.

"It helps them realize the role they’ve played, giving them a sense of purpose."

"The day went beautifully," Nick said.

For him, the project was a service to his country.

"Ever since 9/11, I’ve wanted to do something with war veterans, and this has really opened my eyes. I’m so glad I am a part of recording these memories."

Nick was not the only one who benefited. McNulty stressed that "all the kids were fascinated by the stories they were hearing, and the veterans really appreciated the opportunity to share their stories with the future generations."

Nick plans to create a book of the 27 interviews, giving one to the Veterans Library, another to the Library of Congress and, of course, keeping one as a souvenir.

Nick expressed gratitude for the support and leadership of his Scout leaders, Mike Hearon and Tony Henderson, and for McNulty’s help. As a reminder to everyone, Nick quotes author Jack VanderGeest, who was a personal inspiration to him: "Thank the vets for your freedom."

For information about the Veterans History Project, go to www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/ or call 1-888-371-5848.