My grandfather is a 90 year-old WWII vet who fought valiantly as a paratrooper with the 502nd Parachute Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division. Think Band of Brothers. Saving Private Ryan. The Screaming Eagles.

Yet when I asked him to come and speak at the library for Veteran’s Day, he shrugged, saying, “No one wants to hear about what I did. They can just watch a movie or read a book about the war. They don’t want to hear from me.” I argued that he was wrong – while many excellent books and movies do exist on WWII and the 101st, nothing compares to firsthand accounts of jumping from the plane on D-Day, liberating a concentration camp, struggling through the Battle of Bastogne and so much more. His stories convey the horror and triumphs, camaraderie and loss in a way that a book or movie just can’t express. Not to mention, he is one of the few soldiers left from the prestigious 101st Airborne. At 90 years old, each memory he conveys is living history, soon to be gone.

My grandfather will be speaking at the Elkton Central Library November 3rd at 7:00 pm. I’m thrilled because I believe that Cecil Countians ARE interested in history. And that’s why this winter, CCPL is presenting this and many other exciting historical programs that celebrate our local heroes and heritage. Join us for the following:

The 101st Screaming Eagles: A Walk with Heroes
Tuesday, November 3rd at 7:00pm
Elkton Central Branch

The 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles fought in most major European battles of World War II. Joseph Lofthouse was a radioman for the 502 Regiment from D-Day to Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and Hitler’s Eagles Nest. Listen to his remarkable stories of an extraordinary time and of events that changed the world. Registration required.

Shipwrecks on the Chesapeake
Wed, November 4th at 7:00pm
Elkton Central Branch

The Chesapeake Bay is a key feature of Maryland’s geography, but less well known as a graveyard for ships, their passengers, and crews. More than 1,800 shipwrecks have been documented on the Chesapeake from the colonial era to present. Join Don Bonsteel from the Maryland Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library as he discusses five of the most interesting cases documented. Registration required.

Restoration of the Elf
Mon, November 16th at 6:30pm
Chesapeake City Branch

Captain Rick Carrion will share the story of the Elf – from a derelict to a classic yacht.

Are you interested in history? Leave a comment about what interests you!

Resume Myth #1: Your resume should be no longer than one page.

Resume Myth #2: Always include your references in your resume.

Resume Myth #3: One solid resume is all you need.

When it comes to resumes, the rules are always changing.  For instance, job-seekers were once instructed to limit their resumes to a single page—tough when you have years of experience in your field.  The new rule?  Multi-page resumes are totally acceptable.  Used to including a list of references in your resume?  No longer necessary, not to mention a waste of precious space.  And that last myth may be a disappointment to some—while a one-size-fits-all resume used to be the norm, resumes that are targeted to specific positions and companies are king, especially as more employers go online to connect with job seekers.

Having trouble keeping up?  Never fear!  CCPL’s free Resume Review service is here to help you give your resume the added punch and professionalism that will help get you noticed.  Launched in August 2009, Resume Review has helped a number of Cecil Countians perfect their resumes by providing feedback on formatting, spelling, grammar, and overall effectiveness, as well as suggestions for improvement.  How does it work?  Simply email your completed resume to resumereview@ccplnet.org as a Microsoft Word attachment and within two weeks, our trained staff will review and return your resume with comments and suggestions that will help move your resume from the “NO” to the “YES!” pile.

In addition to Resume Review, CCPL offers a number of free classes and resources for today’s job-seekers.  Whether you’ve recently been laid off, are returning to work after years as a stay-at-home mom, or simply looking for a career change, we can help.  In addition to offering courses that will help bring your computer skills up to par, we also provide two classes specifically geared toward job-seekers:  Job Search Smart and Resume Rescue.  Click here to see upcoming dates for these classes, or contact your local branch.

Explored our website lately?  Check out this list of resources for job-seekers, which includes tips and guides as well as links to online job-search sites.  And last, don’t forget that your library system houses an award-winning Small Business and Information Center where you can receive free information and individual assistance for starting or growing your small business.

Whatever your situation, CCPL has the resources and expertise to help put you on the fast track to professional success!