By Carol Fisher Linn
It has been an honor and a privilege for me to probe through the annals of history or into people’s minds, learning about individuals and events in our Western New York area and sharing their stories with you. With the 84th commemoration of the attack on the United States by Japan on Pearl Harbor it is with deepest respect that we at The Villager honor those 1 million plus Americans who immediately voluntarily enlisted to defend our country plus the 10 million or more who were subsequently drafted. The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marked the galvanizing or our nation which had been sitting in the background harboring isolationist sentiments and staying out of things. We were now at war. This was a major mobilization of Americans in response to an attack on America. When news hit our shores, my own dad, Walter Panek took the streetcar to downtown Buffalo and immediately enlisted in the Coast Guard and was sent into the heart of the action, the South Pacific. It was his fourth deployment since he was 16 and joined the U.S Marine Corps in 1926. Likely, every one of you has a member of your family who is a hero, their story likely untold.
Although Ellicottville’s Daniel Siriani did not join until 1942 this teacher, principal, and superintendent at Ellicottville Central School carries a service history that proves the greatness and the heart of America’s citizens. Joining in 1942 and sent to England he became a member of the 179th bomb group of the 8th Air force. His plane, with a crew of ten, was called “Iron Maiden.” With nine raids behind them, the 10th mission over Germany (10/14/43) saw them complete their bombing mission over Germany then get hit by enemy fire. Siriani and five others jumped out; he was taken to a farm by two German woman and was subsequently taken to a German prison, Stalag 17B in Kelms, Austria. After two years the prisoners were sent on a forced march and were fortunately liberated. He was awarded Purple Hearts, and Air medal and other citations. In 2006, Siriani returned to Germany (where his plane went down) and was treated like a hero by everyone who wanted to meet him. Until his daughter, Ellen Frank, shared this story, I only knew Mr. Siriani as the Superintendent at the school. He never let on about his past, about being a POW or of being a Purple Heart recipient. Unfortunately, that is the same story of many heroes who endured the horrors of the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack and the ensuing war. Perhaps you still have the presence of, or fresh memories of your own family heroes. Take a moment to be grateful and to celebrate them. May thanks to Ellen Siriani Frank for sharing this information about Ellicottville’s local hero, Daniel Siriani.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the man who had to make the critical and painful decision to take America to war. Albert McFayden, a Lockport native is also a person of note from our part of the United States. An actor, he was performing in a production of “Annie” when he became “hooked” on portraying Franklin D. Roosevelt. In a Buffalo News article by J. Kwiatkowski in 2012 she shared his story and the painstaking work he put into getting his portrayal of this important president as accurate as possible. “I try to be as authentic as possible,” said the retired auditor, who was born in 1946, one year after Roosevelt’s death.
He has performed in countless other gigs, but his favorite is FDR. McFadyen will reprise his role as Franklin Delano Roosevelt during a special program at the Buffalo Naval Park on Sunday, December 7 at 11am to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in which more than 2,500 servicemen and civilians were killed and more than 1,200 were wounded.
McFadyen will recreate Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech to Congress, given on December 8, 1941, and share stories and anecdotes about Roosevelt’s life and presidency. He uses an antique wheelchair and cane in his portrayal of the 32nd president, who was paralyzed from the waist down because of polio. McFadyen has portrayed FDR at numerous schools and theaters around the United States and supplied Roosevelt’s voice in the Ken Burns production “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” This event is free and open to the public. Please register to reserve your seat at tickettailor.com.