World War II Honoree

Dorothy Evans

Hometown

Lakeland, Florida

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SHE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL DURING THE WAR YEARS, INCLUDING WHEN THE RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE ABOUT THE JAPANESE SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. THE FOLLOWING DAY, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S ADDRESS BEFORE CONGRESS ASKED FOR A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST JAPAN. WHEN THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR, LIFE SOON CHANGED FOR HER FAMILY WITH THE LARGE INFLUX OF MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THEIR TOWN, AND INTRODUCTION OF RATIONING AND OTHER WARTIME RESTRICTIONS. SHE RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM THE OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION (OPA) FOR HELPING ISSUE RATION BOOKS TO CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WAS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE JOB. SHE PLANTED A 'VICTORY' GARDEN TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THE FAMILY'S FOOD SUPPLY, COLLECTED TINFOIL, AND BOUGHT WAR BOND STAMPS AT SCHOOL, WHICH COULD LATER BE REDEEMED FOR A WAR BOND WHEN THE BOOK WAS FULL. HER FAMILY ALSO HOSTED MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM NEARBY MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FOR VISITS. SHE COMPLETED AN AMERICAN RED CROSS JUNIOR COURSE IN FIRST AID WHILE IN THE NINTH GRADE, AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA. WHEN SHE WAS OLDER, SHE AND GIRL FRIENDS WENT TO THE LOCAL UNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS (USO) CLUB ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS TO VISIT AND PLAY BOARD GAMES WITH SERVICE MEMBERS. SHE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OTHER SERVICE AND CIVIC PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THE 'HOME FRONT' EFFORT. SHE WAS HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE AMERICAN WAR EFFORT IN HER OWN SMALL WAYS.