The 1947 Arenzville Veterans Homecoming Parade
Arenzville Honours Its Servicemen and Women
Photographs generously provided by Earl Niestradt
The war was over. The men and women of Arenzville had come home.
And on a day in 1947, the village came out to the streets to say thank you.
| 1947 | 172+ | You |
|---|---|---|
|
Year of the Parade |
WWII Veterans Who Served |
Can Help Identify These Faces |
Many of the faces in these photographs are documented in the World War II veterans archive. Search by name to find a record.
| 1947 | 172+ | You |
|---|---|---|
|
Year of the Parade |
WWII Veterans Who Served |
Can Help Identify These Faces |
Many of the faces in these photographs are documented in the World War II veterans archive. Search by name to find a record.
A Community Fulfils Its Promise
In the spring and summer of 1945, the war ended – first in Europe on May 8, then in the Pacific on August 15. One by one, the men and women of Arenzville came home from the theatres they had been serving in, shedding their uniforms and picking up where their lives had been interrupted.
In the spring and summer of 1945, the war ended – first in Europe on May 8, then in the Pacific on August 15. One by one, the men and women of Arenzville came home from the theatres they had been serving in, shedding their uniforms and picking up where their lives had been interrupted.
By 1947, most were back. And Arenzville did what communities have always done for their returning veterans: it gathered on the streets and cheered.
The parade captured in these photographs was Arenzville’s public, visible declaration of pride – the homecoming welcome that the veterans of this community had earned, and that the community had promised to give them.
It was also the same year the Legion Hall was built. The same year Commander Kenneth Hierman wrote his letter asking the community to support Post 604. The same year Edward Wessler reminded Arenzville of the promises it had made to its veterans during the war.
The parade, the Legion Hall, the Tattler – all of it was part of the same act: a community coming through for the people who had served it.
The Photographs – A Personal Archive
These photographs were preserved and generously donated by Earl Niestradt – himself a veteran of World War II and one of the men this community was honouring. Earl appears in the Arenzville World War II veterans archive as one of the 172 men and women from this community who served.
That he kept these photographs – that he held onto them and eventually shared them – is its own act of care for the community's memory.
The Parade – 1947
Browse the photographs below. If you recognize anyone – or know more about the date, location within the village, or occasion – please use the identification form at the bottom of the page.
Do You Recognize a Face?
These photographs were taken more than 75 years ago. Many of the people in them served in the WWII veterans archive documented elsewhere on this site – but matching faces to names requires the community’s help.
Can you identify anyone in these photos?
If you recognize a face, know a family name, remember the occasion, or have any information about the parade – even a small detail – please tell us. You might be the only person who knows.
When a face is identified, the caption will be updated in this archive so that the person’s name is preserved alongside their image – permanently, and for anyone who comes looking.
