A SALUTE TO PAUL COHEN - HEROIC SOLDIER OF WWII

Paul Cohen - Heroic Veteran of WWII - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010.

The Board of Directors of The Museum dedicated our May meeting to a genuine San Fernando Valley hero, Paul Cohen. Mr. Cohen served in the US Army in the Battle of Laite in the Phillappine Islands and in the Battle for Okinawa. He and his wife Frances live in Woodland Hills.

Bronze Star, won by Paul Cohen in World War II. He was the first veteran interviewed in The Museum's project to secure the histories of Jewish American Veterans of the Second World War. Van Nuys based photographer and blog writer Andy Hurvitz is working with The Museum on this important project.

WHY VETERANS' INTERVIEWS ARE A PRIORITY FOR YOUR MUSEUM

2010 -- THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES --Northirdge100

Soldier of the 96th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, World War II - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010.

I have seldom seen any group of individuals working harder than the Board of Directors and Advisers to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Just about the time when it looks like we can coast for awhile, something new and often urgent arises. Securing the histories of our World War II and Korean War veterans takes real precedence in The Museum's efforts. Yesterday's interview with 91 year old Paul Cohen, who served in the United States Army in the Philippines and in the battle for Okinawa, is a significant example.

Some of the other things the Museum has going:

On Saturday May 1st, The Museum presents to the LA Heritage Alliance (meeting at the Pierce College Farm Center) our plans for a Greater Los Angeles Fall Cleaning Garage Sale for dozens of LA historical groups. It should be one of the biggest events of the year and raise money for historical organizations all over our vast city.

On Sunday May2nd, your Museum will be part of the BIG FAMILY DAY at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) downtown LA. (It's a giant family centered day with the arts at the MOCA museum info: 1 (213) 621-1745. We'll have coloring maps of the San Fernando Valley for kids to enjoy..... and, learn more about our fabulous Valley.

And, on Saturday May 8th, we'll be taking Valley residents and visitors on a special guided walking tour of historic Van Nuys.

BUT.................. an Interview with VALLEY HERO, PAUL COHEN went to the top of our list of things to accomplish.

In The Museum's last Board meeting, we agreed to partner with the young and accomplished blogger and photographer, Andy Hurvitz to seek support for a joint effort to acquire the photos and stories of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Jewish American War Veterans. In the process, The Museum is developing an interview process applicable to interviewing of all veterans and other Valley notables. The interview with Paul Cohen gave us the opportunity to try out our questioning techniques, photography skills and because our recording device failed, our ability to record Paul's history by hand.

WANT TO HELP? Call Jerry Fecht (fate) at 1 (818) 347-9665 and ask about one of the above projects, or our upcoming work on the 75th Anniversary of Republic Studios, our efforts to make the 100th Anniversary of Northridge (Northridge100) a grand success, our Speakers in Historic Places talks, the preservation and appropriate use of the historic Idle Hour Cafe in the NoHo, securing the history of Our Lady of Corvallis High School in Studio City and many other efforts.

JEWISH WAR VETERANS IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

One of the most important young artists living and working in the San Fernando Valley is Andy Hurvitz. Those of us who have been watching the HBO series "Pacific" will be especially moved by Andy's photographs of a Seder dinner held by the Jewish War Veterans, Post 603. Capturing the present and making bridges to the past is an essential part of being human. Thank you Andy.
Visit Andy Hurvitz's blog Here In Van Nuys, it's terrific! http://hereinvannuys.com

Here's the link to photos of the Jewish War Veterans by Andy.
http://museumsanfernandovalley.blogspot.com/2010/04/jewish-war-veterans-in-san-fernando.html