Many refugees are numbered among the thousands in America who, in addition to investing in war bonds, have given outright to the United States Government unsolicited donations, the Office of War Information said today.
One refugee sent two iron crosses conferred in 1917 and 1918, during his service in the German Army, writing. “I wish to contribute not only the silver worth, which, of course, is small, but also through a symbolic act to set an example that should be followed by all those who came over here in these years to the shores of the United States from Germany and Austria.”
Another letter from a refugee accompanied twin wedding rings and a wrist watch. “Just before war was declared,” the letter read, “we succeeded in coming from Germany to the land of freedom, and we wish to express our sincere gratitude for that. We are so happy to be here and to have the possibility to become citizens of this great country. We therefore think you would appreciate this very small gift we are enclosing to the benefit of this country, the only gold we were able to bring with us.” Still another letter stated: “I am a Belgian and a refugee in this splendid country. Please find enclosed my golden wedding ring which I hope will help in your hard task to get money for defense.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
