S-h-h-h! Filming in progress!

     Imagine this...a living room setting...small couch, two comfortable chairs, ferns on side tables, a coffee table with tea cups and napkins.  That's one side of the room.  On the other side of the room are three cameras on tripods, a table full of electronic equipment, and electrical lines and cables covering the floor.  On the outside of the auditorium door, signs say, "No entrance."  "Filming in progress."
     Today Beau Sherman of SGGA, a South Georgia firm for regional distance learning and teleconferencing, is taping an upcoming show, "Home Front: Behind the Scene."
     Every Veterans' Day in November the country honors those who served and are still serving in the various branches of the Armed Forces.  This coming June 12th, the library is planning a special event to celebrate those at home, on the home front, who were and are working to help our service members involved in war. 
     The filming today covers the time of World War II and the Korean War.
     After an introduction by our director, Melody Jenkins, about the Home Front project, the cameras will swing to show a group of ladies sitting together and talking about what they were doing during the war.  They'll reflect on how people were encouraged to buy war bonds, how ration books were used, and how people saved everything from tin to food.  They'll talk about victory gardens, the work at Spence Air Field here in Moultrie, and how the war affected each of them.
     The ladies today (in the first of what we hope will be several tapings of community volunteers) are Ann Sherman, Ginger Horkan, Myrtle Lofton, and Elois Matthews.  They will share things they brought that remind them of the war times...things like newspaper clippings, those ration books, pictures, and letters.
     We scheduled the filming from 10 a.m. to noon.  But, as Beau said, if they end up talking longer than that, then he'll keep filming.  After all, how often do you get to document these memories of the home front during war time?  We already see how we are losing our World War II Veterans.  Every story we can capture to help our future generations understand their heritage, the better off we will be.
    And for that reason we are inviting you in the community to let us know your story.  What were you doing when World War II and the Korean War were going on?  How did you handle events here at home?  Do you have a story to tell?
     If so, please share those stories with us.  Your memories are precious and need to be documented.  All you have to do is call Melody Jenkins or Ann Glass, Chairman of the Veterans History Project, here at the library - 229-985-6540.  Or you can email us at mccls@mccls.org and let us know you have a story for us.
     We'd like to keep this project going and your contributions are vital to the Veterans History Project.  Please let us hear from you.

The Veterans History Project Made The Front Page

Did you see this morning's paper? The Thursday, October 8th, edition of The Moultrie Observer had a nice color picture under the heading "Veterans' voices." World War II veteran Howard Hall is shown being interviewed by Dustianne Hall, a high school video production student.
The article told a little more about what I wrote yesterday regarding the interviewing of our Colquitt County veterans of all the wars and campaigns.
What many people don't know is that quite a few years ago, a lovely little lady who worked here at the library for 61 years, Catherine M. Bryant, began the Veterans History Project, which was later named in her honor.
Since it was her desire that veterans be honored and never forgotten, the Veterans History Project was housed in the Odom Genealogical Library. Catherine worked hard for many years to raise money to support the project and acquire information on as many veterans as she could add to the collection.
A library coworker said that Mrs. Bryant laid the foundation to help future generations develop a deeper understanding of peace. That she did!
So, thanks to Catherine Bryant, the library is still collecting information about veterans, as an adjunct to the general genealogy information in the library. Materials include personal information forms supplied by veterans or their families, memorabilia, and books covering the history of various conflicts and Spence Air Base. These forms may be obtained from the genealogy librarian.
There were eleven veterans interviewed yesterday. Memories of their trials and war years brought tears to the eyes of those listening. I imagine when you see the interviews on CNS, Channel 6, in a few weeks, you'll understand what I'm talking about.
As these collections of interviews are completed, they'll be on DVDs in the Odom Library and available for viewing.
And the Catherine M. Bryant Veterans History Project continues.

September Employee of the Month - Catherine M. Bryant

September 2007 brings a new program to the employees of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library. Director Melody Jenkins announced an employee will be selected each month to receive the title Employee of the Month. The exemplary employee will receive a certificate of appreciation bearing their picture (copies of which will be placed in the main library and the genealogy library) and a designated parking space for the month of their reign, as well as other forms of recognition.

This month's Employee of the Month is Catherine M. Bryant, Genealogy and Administrative Assistant, who has been employed with the library for 41 years.

Beginning as a Bookmobile Librarian, she later was placed in charge of the library's film service, the audio-visual equipment and its repair, and the Intra-Library Loan service. She also has been secretary to the library board for more than 30 years. However, Catherine's greatest library love has been the Veterans History Project, which was named in her honor earlier this year. Since it was her desire that Veterans be honored and never forgotten, the Veterans Project was housed in the genealogy library. Catherine has worked hard for many years to raise money to support the project and acquire information on as many Veterans as she can add to the collection. One co-worker said: "Mrs. Bryant lays a foundation to help future generations develop a deeper understanding of peace."

Those of us at the library, who know Catherine, see a tiny, sweet, hard-working woman with the stature and power of a giant. And it is with love and congratulations that she is presented this honor. Thank you, Catherine, for your many years of dedication and caring service.