West Orange Seniors Shine Lantern Of Hope To Teens Amid COVID

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The coronavirus pandemic may seem like an insurmountable obstacle. But there have been other times in U.S. history that reached crisis proportions: world wars, the Great Depression, the civil rights movement, the September 11 attacks. And hopefully, there may be some comfort in hearing from the people who lived through those times as West Orange looks to a post-COVID future.

Aging Well West Orange recently invited older adults in the community to share a brief statement with local teens based on their own life experiences. The goal? To encourage local youth to see “optimism and hope” amid hard times.

Conceived by West Orange Senior Services program coordinator Laura Van Dyke, the effort got a big response from local residents.

Read some of their replies below, and see the entire “Legacy of Love” greeting here.

POLIO VACCINES – “Throughout our lives we experience peaks and valleys. I have several memories of having to cope with circumstances beyond my control in order to survive. One such time was during the poliovirus epidemic. Polio is a life-threatening disease that can cause paralysis and possibly death. The 32th President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was crippled by it. As a child, I remember anxiously standing in a long line, waiting to get the polio vaccine. The line was moving slowly, the weather was uncomfortable and I was extremely afraid of needles. I clung tightly to my aunt, who began talking to me about various topics and telling Knock-knock jokes. The conversation distracted me and made me laugh. Her loving approach eased me, shortened the wait time and diminished the needle’s sting. I have been confronted with many obstacles, including racial discrimination, sexism and unfairness. Today, like you, I am confronted with the coronavirus pandemic, attack on our democracy, racial divide, economic instability, social unrest and the loss of loved ones. Whenever I have a problem, I reflect on the historical events that gave me strength, lean on my faith, participate in meaningful social activities, journal about my gratitude and remember hopeful messages, such as “keep your eye on the prize’. You can also exercise, start a hobby or learn new things. You are strong, creative and smart. You are working toward your future. I am confident that whatever you do to survive this challenging time, you will be successful because you are more than yourself. We will get through this.”

THE GREAT DEPRESSION – “I was born November 1931 at the height of the Great Depression. The world was going through a serious financial crisis. Banks collapsed, Wall Street crashed and many people were unemployed. I lived in Newark, among a mix of immigrants, ethnic backgrounds and cultures. Although we didn’t speak the same language, there was a strong bond and sense of community. I incorporated the tenacity and strength of my close-knit family and my community's diverse heritages. My extended family included grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who always lived in the same building. Both sets of grandparents only spoke Italian. My grandmother greatly influenced my life. A devout Catholic, like many Italians she maintained a shrine of Saints and votive lights on her bedroom dresser. I keep a similar shrine. She was very calm, soft spoken and a good listener. I didn’t inherit these traits. Many families attended evening church services. My mother forced me to go with her every night; I dreaded it. I didn’t realize this was the only hope parents had that if they prayed their young sons, serving in WWII, would survive. Although many were killed, wounded or MIA, parents were proud that their sons fought for their country. Entire neighborhoods turned out in front of the boys’ homes on the day of the funeral. On Sunday afternoons, American Military Police would bring a busload of Italian Prisoners of War to our neighborhood. The MP would set up wooden tables and chairs. The Italian women would set out plastic table cloths and place settings and serve as interpreters. The foods included ethnic favorites, corned beef and cabbage, sauerbraten, spaghetti and meatballs, kielbasa, pierogi, homemade desserts and more. And very good homemade Italian Wine. Years later, I realized that some of our neighbors’ sons were likely being fired at by relatives of the very boys our families treated so kindly. My faith sustains me through the bad experiences and tragedies in my life. Today, I often reflect on the various dimensions of faith, love, life and war.”

REFUSED TO LET RACISM STOP ME – “I am a product of St. Louis, Missouri. My grandparents moved to St. Louis during the Great Migration because of harsh racism in Arkansas. Don’t get me wrong, there was racism in St. Louis too, just not as overt as in Arkansas. My parents divorced when my brother and I were 3 and 5 years old. We lived with my wise mother and wonderful grandparents. We attended kindergarten through grade 12 in segregated schools. This was the norm and I was happy with it. We had highly educated and devoted teachers with so much love, support, understanding and care. I absolutely loved my 4 years at Vashon High School. I remember leaving a football game and stopping at “White Castle” for burgers. We were told we had to go around back to get served. I felt humiliated. After all, my father fought in World War Il for this country. In school, we were encouraged to become teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc., however, we knew we must work harder because our skin color. Grandpa ingrained his work ethic in us without our realizing it. Everyone in our family went to school or work, no exceptions. I finished college and taught school for 30 years. I opened a successful business and invested in real estate. As a child, I knew that that | would purchase income property to make my life more comfortable. I refused to let racism stop me. I had to work twice as hard, but it made me a stronger person and afforded a better life for me and my family.”

STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS – “In 1967, the second quarter of my senior year at college I was a student teacher at Trenton Central High School. Shortly before Thanksgiving there was a student walkout and threats of a riot. My students, frightened, came to class, and we kept them safe in the room. The school closed one day early for Thanksgiving, and my college decided that we student teachers had finished our assignments and would not return. Two years later, I was teaching at Lincoln High School in Jersey City. Again, there were student demonstrations and walkouts. The protests were not against the school itself, as this was a time of the Viet Nam war and national protest. I don’t remember the precise details of how the principal, a respected church pastor, resolved the issues, but I recall he did meet with the protest leaders, and eventually the school returned to normal. I am 73 and haven’t thought of those protests in years. They were frightening but I tried to maintain normalcy for my students, remain positive, and listen to what they had to say. In some ways, the Jan 6, 2021 riots on the US Capitol brought those memories back to mind. National conflicts, along with the various hardships you are experiencing today, will also pass. You will be stronger and smarter because of it. I hope this helps.”

FLOWERS AMID WILDFIRES – “I want to share a personal journey that began in 1989, while visiting Yellowstone National Park, a favorite family destination. At age 21, I had travelled out West to attend a family reunion. The prior year devastating wildfires ravaged mass acreage of forest. I had some anticipatory dread as to what I would see. Unexpectedly, upon arrival, there was a spectacular sight: an abundance of wildflowers with vibrant colors of pink, yellow, purple and blue. Apparently, the fallen tree ash had enriched the soil, creating this wonderful vista. I was delighted. This experience precipitated a shift in my thinking. What began to crystalize for me was the understanding that people have the same potential for transformation following hardship, loss, or unexpected change. Growing up with a devoted mother who struggled with bouts of depression, my budding perspective now required clear and intentional focus to see hope and possibility amidst the daily strife. Over time, I leaned that a person must be open to change and should understand, as nature perfectly demonstrates, the muck is part of the journey. To deepen self-knowledge, ask yourself, “Where do I rest my gaze: on the ash or the bloom? Both deserve notice, but where does my gaze linger?”

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