Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-24

4
military protocol and marched
straight into nearby Valley
Forge Army Hospital. saying he
was going 10 read 10 veterans
who couldn't see.
Under an arm we're two pre-.
cious books biography OF the
pride OF the New York Yankees
Lou 0ehrig. and the story Of 9
more recent Yankee idol. Joe
Di Maggie. Next 10 helping PEG.
pie, Eddie liked baseball best
He couldn't get other books. he
said, but these were q good
start for who isn't q baseball
fan?
Plea Wins Approval
The military melted In tn,
presence OF such enthusiasm
and unselflshnesS
Soon Eddie's voice carried fai
beyond Valley Forge Hospital
BY means OF the Armed Forces
Radio Network. II was heard
overseas. reading TO men In
uniform In many places. His re-
pertory was enlarged now
Sure. Iron Man Lou and Joltir
Joe we're still enshrined there
but there were other tales 10 b
told. other heroes 70 praise. al
the scope OF the boys efforts
widened and q world took nots
Of what he was doing.
Generals praised Eddie. Hom'
front organizations cited him
He won special awards anC
prizes such as bicycles and. Of
course, more books. A tele'
vision show ED Sullivan'i
Toast OF the TOWN. presented
him TO millions Of Americans.
Where is Eddie Dworchal
now. and what Is he doing?
Still Aids Blind
These questions were askee
recently when Eddie's old frienC
from the TV show spoke In
Philadelphia, and other people
reminded Of Eddie's contribu'
ton, began wondering. too.
Eddie, Is next month. work.
a night job in a food chair
store. He Is as devoted as evel
to baseball. He still reads II
the blind. Not at Valley Forge
though. for there are no un'
seeing veterans there now. HI
is back where he first Learned
how good 1t is to lend q hanC
or a voice, those who have {
disability. at the Roger Greavei
School for blinded children ir
suburban Paoli.
II was at this State-aideC
private school. Just q few block,
from his own home. that Eddie
first was drawn toward helping
the blind. 1t was his experience
with other children there thai
quickeped his mind and hear
for the bright idea Of reading
10 war veterans.
Kept His Routine
Even when he was giving *
much time TO Valley Forge and
TO the farther horizons, Eddi,
did not lose touch with thu
school. Later, continuing hi
own Junior and senior high
school education. he made reg
ular visits to read and to talk
Eddie Is Q bit keen on talkinl
about this. and he Is embar.
raised II the subject Is raiset
when his mother and stepfa.
ther are on hand. II his guars
Is let down at all, 1t is wheI
Bob Di Mazzo is mentioned. d
Mazzo. 20. Is q Greaves alum
nus and one Of Eddie's closes
friends. Eddie taught him h
run. encouraged him as q con
versationalist. helped him will
his music. stimulated his sens
Of humor.
Eddie admits he Is prett,
proud Of this friend. all tn,
more so as nobody gave BoI
Di Mazzo much chance of sur
vival when he was carried int,
the school at the age Of So
shadow thin. wan and listless.
The GreaveS School has stat
readers these days. 50 Eddie
voluntary efforts are shifting
more and more to recreationa
activities on the playground
and to fund raising on behalf o
. new building. All the same
he says he never wants to stol
reading to the blind. He feel