The Sidney herald., 1960-04-27
MariIyn Conroy
Places Second
In Essay Contest

winner IN the VF.W. Auxiliary
Essay Contest.
The second place essay follows:
Civil Defense-An American
Tradition
Although our country is less
than two-hundred years old. our
peace and security has been
threatened on many different &C.
casions. The unity of the people
not only in the fighting forces, but
also on the home front, in the
past has been strong enough to
surmont any obstacles that might
damage the spiritual, moral, or
political life of our country for
which our fore-fathers so valiant
ly fought.
At any time that the peace and
welfare of our country was in
danger, the people had to be ready
to defend the principles for which
our ancestors gave their lives in
the War of independence. In the
early days of this country's his
tory the part each citizen had to
play, as a part of the defense
mechanism, was far more easily
defined than it is today with the
continual increase of more pro-
gresSive implements Of war.
The whole of the United States
was at one time actually subject
to a pioneering process-hence to
a civil defense process. From 1888
and on for nearly a century,
civil defense became a vital mat
ter. The necessity for guarding
the frontier gave rise to the crea-
ton of a standing army.
When the English colonies
arrived in America, they brought
with them not only their civil but
also their military institutions.
Each colony raised its own militia
for the preservation of order, and
for the defense of the frontier.
When a special emergency arose,
an expedition was formed which
was made up Of the kings troops,
the local militia, and local irregu-
lars.
After the War of 1912, Congress
decided to maintain an army for
the purpose of protecting the
frontiers. Posts were then estab-
lished at strategic places. Frontier
defense meant surveys of rivers
and lakes, protecting mail routes,
and trading caravans, protecting
both whites and Indians.
Defense against the Indians led
to the discovery in detail of the
country-to the formulation of
military policy and defense-to
the rapid conquest and settlement
of the continent.
Today we face a different kind
of civil defense planning. Now
civil defense planning is based on
two assumptions: that there may
be a diplomatic failure to prevent
war; or that there may be a mill
! tary failure to prevent an air
invasion. 1t the latter failure is
even fragmentary, the bomb or
bombs will be down and a large
segment of our civilian population
will have to be plunged into the
horrors of nuclear warfare. II
there is war, retaliatory action by
our military forces may well pre-
vent further attacks on us. This,
however, will not accomplish any
thing to care for our wounded
population or prevent the extern
sion of civilian fatalities from the
effects of radiation.
The Civil Defense Administra-
ton has become one of our. most
important assets for, besides plan
ming our nations defense. it also
plants medical and other supplies
needed in case a nuclear attark
at essential places outside the
likely target cities. The FCDA, in
order to learn as well as give in
formation on the effects of atomic
weapons, have joined with the
Atomic Energy Commission il
nuclear tests that are being helC
in Nevada.
We can all be Civil Defenst
WorkerS-not only can but mus
be! Each and every family mus
have for its goal the safety anC
protection of their own household
Directions for the construction o
a safe shelter and lists of tht
essential materials that should b.
placed within it can be secured
from any local Civil DefenS'
director.
The mission that Civil Defens'
must accomplish is enormous. Gu.
practice exercises, be they local
state, OF national, have for thei
purpose the testing of our plan
to meet the various condition
that may be imposed upon us t
train civil defense workers t.
carry out their tasks in as pur
\ poseful and efficient a mamie
as possible should we be confront
ed with the many terrifying prob
lens of an atomic war.
AS in the past, l am sure tina
1 all citizens of this country Wi
"rally to the cause according t