Cecil County Public Library is honored to be one of only six stops on author Steven Galloway’s book tour this fall! Following his appearance at the Baltimore Book Festival, Galloway will visit the Elkton Central Library on Monday, October 1st at 3pm to talk about his bestseller, The Cellist of Sarajevo. To give him a warm, Cecil County welcome, we have invited cellist Meredith Bates to perform in the main part of the library starting at 2pm.

The Cellist of Sarajevo is a moving story of resiliency and courage set in a city devastated by violence. When a cellist witnesses the deaths of 22 people outside his window, he risks his life to honor them, playing cello at the site for 22 days in the midst of snipers and chaos. Inspired by a true story, The Cellist explores the ways in which war uniquely changes our sense of self and our connection to others’ lives and well-being.

The Cellist of Sarajevo was this year’s One Maryland One Book selection. One Maryland One Book is designed to bring together diverse people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. Visit the Maryland Humanities Council website to read more about the book and events around the state.

Join the conversation! Stop by your local branch, pick up a FREE copy (yes, you can keep it!), and pop into one of our many discussions:

Elkton Central Library: 9/20 @ 7pm
Cecilton Branch Library: 9/25 @ 6:30pm
Perryville Branch Library: 9/27 @ 7pm
Chesapeake City Branch Library: 10/1 @ 1pm
Rising Sun Branch Library: 10/10 @ 7pm
Rising Sun Branch Library: 10/22 @ 1pm

Before he was a hero, he was just a Chicago kid. The youngest of four and son to English immigrant parents, Bert was adored by everyone. His family used to tease that he was “Momma’s little bubby-mies,” a playful way of saying that he could get away with anything. No one seemed to mind.

Bert finished high school and worked as a purchasing agent. His brother – who, despite being older, idolized Bert – enlisted in the service in 1942 and was stationed in Detroit as a military policeman. Nine months later, Bert decided to do the same. He was just 24 years old when he joined the United States Army Air Corps. The family couldn’t have been prouder; Bert was going to fly.

“Hell’s Angels” was her name, an iconic B17 aircraft on a mission to bomb the U-Boat Yards in Kiel, Germany, and Bert was her 2nd Lieutenant. After a successful bombing, she was up against fifty German FW190s and Me109s. Around 12:30 in the afternoon, Hell’s Angels suffered a hole in the rudder and a stopped engine. Bert, and his 9 comrades on board, died over the North Sea.

This memorial day, I’ll be thinking of the men of the 8th Air Force 91 Bomb Group 322 Bomb Squadron. I’ll be thinking of my great-uncle Albert “Bert” Davies, a man who continues to be honored and loved in our family, though his story survives only through faded correspondence and the memories passed down to a generation that never met him.

This Monday, May 28th, the library will be closed in observance of Memorial Day. The long weekend is a perfect opportunity to meet with your family and tell the stories of the brave men and women who have died in service to our nation. If you’re planning to interview a veteran or those who remember the service of one who has died, consider consulting the chapters on interviewing in The Genealogy Handbook by Ellen Galford and The Genealogy Sourcebook by Sharon Debartolo Carmack. To read about the stories of brave Cecil Countians, be sure to check out Cecil’s Soldiers: Stories from the World War II Generation by Jenifer Dolde.

And if you’re interested in local history, make sure to check out the Journey Stories events coming to Cecil County this summer and fall.

The men in the group photograph are as follows: S/Sgt. Clyde B. Burdick; 1st Lieutenant William H. Broley; 2nd Lieutenant Albert H. Davies; 2nd Lieutenant Joseph M. Darmiento; T/Sgt. Lowell A. Dawson; S/Sgt. Edward H. Jones; T/Sgt. Edward K. Clyne; S/Sgt. Kenneth S. Greer; S/Sgt. Kenneth T. Donovan; Sgt. Edward S. Caspariello.

Who will you be thinking of this Memorial Day? Please share below!