November meeting

 Planning future events at the November meeting brought out a good crowd of Historical League members. Guest speaker Diane Burke Fessler presented her book and discussed women veterans in WWII.

Thanks to Josie Pete and Katie Tovar for the great photos.

Thanks to Sandy Loeffler for the adorable fall wagon table decorations.

Fabulous lunch presentation from Creations by Sergio at our November meeting. Turkey dinner sandwiches and Pecan pie . . . oh my!

Normandy awaits National History Day students and teachers

Last week, in Normandy, France, fifteen teenagers delivered eulogies at the memorials of men they never knew. These students spent months researching the bravery, selflessness, and courage of these strangers in order to better understand the sacrifice these Silent Heroes made in WWII. The students in the Normandy: Sacrifice for Freedom Albert H. Small Student and Teacher Institute truly are Normandy Scholars. The Historical League is pleased to assist Chandler student Arysap Nejat and teacher Stacey Trepanier through National History Day.

Peter McDonald speaks to Historical League tour group

Thanks to Nancy Evans for arranging a surprise visit with Navajo Code Talker Peter McDonald during our bus tour at Navajo National Monument. Peter was very entertaining, telling many stories of his experiences during WWII. As did many of his fellow Code Talkers, he enrolled at a young age. He was 15.

Susie Brinegar with Peter McDonald

He referred to "boot camp was a breeze" since he had lived his youth in the outdoors, sleeping under the stars, walking everywhere.  Of the 420 who served as Code Talkers, there are only 17 remaining.

Centennial book popular with history teachers

History teacher Vaunee Ann Lewis needs research on WWII for her class. After showing her the biographies and photos of  John Rhodes, Morrison Warren, Eugene Grigsby Jr, Bil Keane, Navajo Code Talkers,  and Bill Kajikawa, she was ready to encourage her students to use this Centennial book.

4th graders at Franklin at Brimhall in the Mesa Public School district are learning more about individual stories and the human side of history through Arizona Historymakers.