Stories about the Relief Effort
Notes from Fran on the Relief Effort
Fran typed her rememberences of the relief effort in the early 1980s for a history of the American Ornithologists Union (AOU) that was then being put together. Here is the ending of her story:
How did they get so many people involved?
The relief effort was largely a person to person effort. But several letters were sent to a wider audience to get as many people as possible involved.
The Committee also gave updates at their annual meetings:
Here's an update given in the late 1940s.
What few Americans realize is that those ornithologists who sent packages to former enemies had courage; they took abuse, and some jeopardized their jobs. The value of the packages sent abroad was minimal compared to that precious commodity - hope. I write this with hope - hope that we will avert another war.