Salem resident hopes display fosters thoughts of WWI

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

SALEM ? Dave Helman doesn?t want us to forget about something none of us ever experienced.

That?s the reason behind the ?Patriotism of World War I as told through piano music of the day? display at the Salem Crew Public Library.

?I thought if I put it there, people would learn more (about) World War I,? Helman, of Salem, said. ?I hope people come in, look at the covers of the music and reflect upon World War I.?

The exhibit is sponsored by the Lewelling Quaker Museum of which Helman?s wife, Cathy, is a board member. The museum had to come up with a three-month display for the library and Helman suggested displaying a portion of his nearly 200-piece collection of sheet music from the time period.

Although music has played a role during most wars, it arguably reached its zenith during World War I, which was fought from 1915 until 1918, and is observing its 100th anniversary this year.

The reason why music was so popular during that period was because the lack of competition from technology, Helman said.

?During that time, everybody had a piano and everybody learned to play it,? he began. ?A lot of socializing was done singing around the piano because there weren?t radios, televisions or computers. It was a period when piano music was huge.?

Helman?s sheet music fills two display cases in front of the library, and he said he has been collecting it for 30 to 35 years at flea markets. Another reason for his interest in World War I is that he is a history buff.

?History has always been fascinating to me,? he explained. ?I?ve visited a lot of battlefields. I absolutely love history and without the understanding of history, I don?t think you can be a good leader. Some of our greatest leaders were also great historians.?

He grew up near Gettysburg, Pa., so he comes by history naturally. Although, he didn?t serve in the military, his father was a decorated World War II veteran and many other family members served their country.

Two of his favorite songs on display are ?How are You Going to Keep ?em Down on the Farm Now That They?ve Seen Paris? and ?The Rose of No Man?s Land.?

Most of the music during the era, Helman said, included the same theme ? mothers and fathers who were watching their sons go off to war.

Helman erected the display just a couple of weeks ago, but already has received positive feedback from several people who have seen it.

The display will be up through Armistice Day, which is now known as Veterans Day and observed on Nov. 11, because he thinks it is important that people learn about Armistice Day.

?World War I is no longer taught in school history classes and the younger generation doesn?t know anything about Armistice Day,? he said. Armistice Day was the day when the treaty was signed ending the war. ?It was basically the Germans surrendering,? he noted.

A rather famous saying launched the observance of Armistice Day. Supposedly the treaty was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

World War I was termed ?the war to end all wars? when it ended. Of course, it didn?t, but it was one of the deadliest wars ever. France saw 11 percent of its population killed during the war, 30,000 troops died in one day in the Battle of the Somme (in France) and all-told, the war claimed 15-18 million people.

The display has even led to an offer that Helman can?t refuse. ?I?ve had two folks in Salem say that when the music is taken out, we should gather around a piano and sing some of the songs.?

Although he has had some of the music for over three decades, he still senses a lump in his throat when he looks at it.

?I kind of choke up a little bit when I see it, and I think if you don?t feel something, you aren?t a true patriot. It is an important emotional experience that causes us to reflect on what so many people endured.?