Cyndee Schaffer, an Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, will discuss the role of women in the military and, in particular, her mother’s WWII experiences as a WAC (Women’s Army Corps), by taking you on a journey from inspiration to publication in her presentation about “Mollie’s War.” Using excerpts from Mollie’s letters written home, Schaffer provides a romantic, yet frightful, glimpse into the life of a woman in uniform during this crucial time in history.
She traces the footsteps of the women serving in Europe following her mother and her fellow WAC’s who were stationed in London before D-Day and during the doodlebug attacks after D-Day. They were transferred to Normandy two months after D-Day and then to Paris. Finally they were transferred to Frankfort, Germany, with the Army of Occupation.
Schaffer will share her writing experiences. She worked with her mother on her memoirs and learned about the first women to serve in the military, during her research, and finally found a publisher.
The Volunteer Millers of Fulton’s de Immigrant Windmill will sponsor this monthly event on Thursday, June 29, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. This audio-video program will be held at the Windmill Cultural Center, located at 111 10th Avenue, Fulton, IL, across from the authentic Dutch windmill.
These events are funded by a grant from the D. S. Flikkema Foundation. All programming is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served following the presentation. The facility is accessible to persons with disabilities.
For more information, visit Windmill Cultural Center and the de Immigrant Facebook page or call Fulton Tourism at 815-589-3925.