Loretto Lundh of St. Charles, daughter of a World War II veteran, and Andy Surratt of American Legion Post 942 in St. Charles examine the Pillars of Honor scale model of the World War II memorial in Washington D.C. that was on display at the Batavia VFW Post 1197 last year. The model will be on display Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Gail Borden Public LIbrary in Elgin.

John Starks | Staff Photographer, 2011

Citizens were issued ration books to purchase certain commodities that were limited during World War II.

Courtesy of Elgin Historical Society

Art Richoz gave up his deferment as a tool and die maker in an Elgin defense plant and enlisted in the Army during World War II. Richoz, who was shot in the face and lost the sight in one eye, later became an advocate for veteran issues in Elgin.

Courtesy of Elinor Richoz

Robert P. Schultz of Elgin, who enlisted in the Army two weeks before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, was sent to North Africa where he received severe injuries from a bomb dropped on a field artillery gun he was operating. Schultz spent his career as a truck driver earning an award for a lifetime of driving without a ticket or accident.

Courtesy of Alma Schultz

To offset the shortage of food, American were encouraged to grow their own in "Victory Gardens." Seeds and tools were provided and the program grew to encompass most empty lots in Elgin.

Courtesy of Jerry Turnquist

Albert J. Allen, left, a former employee of the Elgin National Watch Co., is shown in a company publication with the crew of a B-17 of which he was the pilot.

Courtesy of Jerry Turnquist