Bicentennial Members and Supporters

The membership list of members and supporters of the Pulaski County Bicentennial Committee is 27 legal-sized pages long. Several pages have headers, including the page that has a typed header, which follows. The reamble to the list is entitled “The National Mothers of World War II Inc.”

Founded on our faith in God, the constitution of the United States of America, and the national tradition that gave birth to a Nation of Free People bonded together for the Purpose of enjoying life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and living under a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

To unite fraternally all Mothers who have or had sons or daughters who served or are serving in the armed forces of the United States of America during any World War, beginning with the one commonly known as World War II, to help those sons and daughters to foster and perpetuate the American way of Life, to aid and assist in teaching the advantages of freedom, and the duties and obligations of citizenship in the United States of America.

The following names are Mothers who are presently Member of Winamac, Indiana Unit 122, Unit was organized in May 9th, 1944 on which day, one hundred eight mothers signed the charter. Originally one hundred and four members signed the Charter.

Other headers show dates and places in which the names were gathered, including, in some cases, the persons doing the gathering.

• Farmers Market – Winamac – September 20, 1975, by Millie Redweik nee Gudas, President of the Home Economics Extension Club.
• Francesville Fall Festival, September 6, 1975, by Millie Redweik, Home Economics Extension Club.
• Pulaski County 4-H Fair, August 4, 1975, Bernice DePoy and Millie Redweik. (3 pages)
• Pulaski County 4-H Fair, August 7, 1975, Millie Redweik and Donna Bruce. (2 pages)
• Pulaski County 4-H Fair, August 8, 1975, Arts Association & Star City Lions.

The photo of the certificate appears as if it was not signed, but it was. The signature, 50 years later, is very faint. The certificate is encased in plastic and that probably contributed to the degradation of the ink. We could see enough to tell that it was signed by John Warner, Chair of the National Commission. President Ford signed a letter to the community in congratulations for participation.

1 2 ►

Bicentennial Program

The community put on a robust program for what the Pulaski County Journal described as “several thousand” attendees. Following  here are a number of the speeches that were given. 

Bural of the TIme Capsule

On November 6, 1976, the time capsule – The Spirit of ’76 – was buried on the Courthouse lawn. A poem was presented at the ceremony, written and read by Iona Harshberger Nale. The original poem was laminated before it was placed in the vault,  and for whatever reason, the page was significantly darkened. This photograph actually made the document more legible. (Click on the document for a full view.)

DATABASE