The Sidney herald., 1955-04-21
Legion Auxiliary Snmmbmd Sunday April "a Aid &M- Legion HALL SU..slM Pablo Invited

armed" could well be the motto
Of the Ground Observer Corps,
which cooperates with the Air
Force to provide warning Of ap-
preaching enemy aircraft. The
United States is surrounded by a
fairly strong protecting wall of
radar. The radar, however, has
one disadvantage; it cannot catch
the low-flying planes. Here is
where COG comes in. Since the
keystone of the Federal Civil De-
tense Administrations program is
getting people out of target cities
before the bomb falls, GOO is a
vital part of Civil Defense. Huge
numbers of people are wholly de-
pendent on these little stations
scattered throughout the United
States. My own life may some day
depend upon the sharp eyesight
of one of the GOO observers.
"Tis education forms the COM
mon mind; Just as the twig is bent
the trees inclined"
This famous quotation of Pope's
seems very appropriate for
FCDA's public education program.
This program stresses atomic at
tack survival. Movies, television,
radio, newspaper, magazines-no
means of communication is over
looked to place CD before the
public's eye. And the program is
bearing fruit. Recently my family
and I saw an excellent movie
short showing how to protect
yourself against atomic "fallout,'
that cloud of radioactive dust
capable of killing people thou
sands of miles from the actual
bombing. The movies stressed the
Importance of each member OF
the family knowing exactly what
to do. Following the movies di-
) rections, we have selected a cor
ner of our basement where the
? windows are sheltered. That room
happens to be our utility room
5 in which we store u canned
goods. Thus we have taken care
of another point, having safe fooC
at hand. Addition of a radio anC
some blankets, and we are set
Simple precautions that took JUS
a half hours time. And we're no
the only ones. Families all ovel
the United States are being in.
fluenced by CD's public educa.
ton program. FCDA realizes tina
knowledge is power and that
word to the wsie is sufficient. Ac.
cording to that old proverb, tex
perience is the fools best teach
er; the wise do not need it."
Civil Defense provides leader
ship and guidance, but it is pow
erless without the enthusiasm an,
cooperation of interested people
) "the more the merrier." Man,
people seem to think that if the,
do something active in CD, the,
are displaying a fatalistic, pes
simistic attitude. They believ
others will consider them to b
scared of the future" Nothin.
could be farther from the truth
By means of Civil Defense we ar
doing something positive in prep
aration for the future. What coul
be more optimistic? In searchin.
for a way to convince a friend O
this, that old English proven.
popped into my head: "Hope 70
the best, but prepare for tn
worst" This pithy little adag
presents never-ending wellspring
of good advice. With this befor
US, we can be idealistic, full @
faith, realistic and practical-mind
ed all at once, without being in
congruous.
When 1 think of Civil Defense
I think of a combination of re
alism and idealism, Of suprem
confidence and deep humility.
see a chance to accomplish some
thing positive. I am conscious c
a feeling of oneness" with m
fellow Americans; I realize tn
inter-dependence which has mad
America great. All the saying
that l have applied to Civil De
tense rush through my head; re
= peating themselves over and ovel
each time presenting more pos
sibilitieS of Interpretation: g.
stitch in time saves nine" "Go
helps those who help themselves
"Forewarned is forearmed'
"Hope for the best, but prepar
for the worst" AS President Els
enhower has said, "We live, nc
in an instant of danger, but in a
age Of danger. We will meet
as Americans, boldly, vigorously
and successfulIvl