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MAY 4, 2022
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXIII • NO 11
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A Surprising Friendship Pathways Presentation Focuses On World War II Prisoners In America BY ANN MEAD ASH
n early 2020, Donna J. Stoltzfus, author of the young adult book “Captive,” was beginning to make presentations about the fictional tale of a young boy living on a farm in Lancaster County during World War II. The arrival of COVID-19 restrictions in March of 2020 delayed those events, but on March 21, 2022, Stoltzfus addressed more than 30 people gathered at Landis Homes as part of the Pathways Institute of Lifelong Learning program. Donna’s story of John, a young teen who goes to live and work on a Mennonite neighbor’s farm in the 1940s, was inspired by Christmas cards and a poem given to Donna’s grandparents by a former German prisoner of war (POW) named Karl Demmler. Demmler worked for Stoltzfus’ grandfather Reuben G. Stoltzfus at Glick’s Tomato Farm in Smoketown during the summer of 1945. The poem read, in part, “The little piece of home we found here /
I
Keeps our memories forever here / God be with you and keep you from danger / All of you that became precious to us.”
“This story of friendship (during that time) is not that unusual. There are other stories of POWs working on farms who formed friendships.” In her presentation, Donna said that few Americans realize that POWs were housed in the U.S. during World War II. “Eventually more than 500 camps holding more than 425,000 POWs were spread throughout the country,” Donna explained, adding that 370,000 POWs were German, 51,000 were Italian, and about 5,500 were Japanese. According to Donna, the U.S. government hoped if it treated enemy soldiers well, POWs abroad would be treated fairly, and
the government wanted to show the benefits of a strong democracy. Camps followed the Geneva Convention of 1929, an agreement between 47 governments about how POWs should be treated. POWs took part in concerts, sports, and classes. Demmler was held at the Reading Army Airfield, where he and other prisoners were picked up by one of the Glick’s sons and transported, along with a guard, to the farm in Smoketown to work weekdays. Donna’s research also brought her into contact with Ernst Rinder of Lititz, whose friendship with a guard eventually brought him back to Lancaster County to live. Rinder was captured near Florence, Italy, in 1944. He was brought by ship to Norfolk, Va., and moved to Fort Indiantown Gap for safety reasons. Donna explained that about 25% of POWs were hardened Nazis, who could pose a danger to less-loyal POWs. “The U.S. government attempted to separate Nazis,” Donna noted.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Lancaster Sunrise Rotary Plans Cycling Event
Preserving The Seeds Of History . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
BY COURTNEY MENGEL
According to Homeless Shelters Directory, there are an estimated 950 homeless individuals in Lancaster and Chester counties. It costs Good Samaritan Services (GSS) $35 to provide a night of shelter, two meals, supplies, and compassionate care to an individual. That is about one-third the cost of a hotel per night. Previously known as Good Sam Shelter, GSS has been operating See Golf Outing pg 8
Donna J. Stoltzfus displays her book “Captive.”
BY ANN MEAD ASH
The Lancaster Sunrise Rotary Club Ride for the Community raises funds for local and international needs.
Lancaster Sunrise Rotary Club president Don Holm has a relaxed attitude toward the organization’s annual fundraising ride. “We like to attract as many riders as we can and just have a good time,” said Holm of the ride, which raises funds for a number of community organizations enough for club members to give away $50,000 in scholarships; $25,000 in district grants; and $109,500 in community fund grants in the last five years. See Lancaster Sunrise pg 6
Schreiber To Introduce Ambassador Kids At Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 House Of Worship . . . . . .11 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .12
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