Bill Jacobs opened his water bill two weeks ago and thought, “Shoot, that old guy reminds me of my dad … wait, it is my dad!” He might get to be the grand prize winner of the identification contest to name the men in the photos of the old hotel and the Prisoner of War Camp in Peabody during World War II.

Bill’s father was a camp guard and he is the man leaning on a broom handle in front of the camp. There still are a few unidentified people in the pictures, but it is nice to know that one was a local guy who still has someone here to remember him.

We also have received a plethora of pictures of veterans, both local and with ties to local people. I think we have spanned just about every conflict from World War I to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

We are calling the window display the Veterans’ Roll Call and I think it is going to be a nice exhibit. There still is time to get us a picture of your dad, aunt, grandpa, or brother. We want to see all the veterans linked to Peabody or Marion County folks. They need not have lived here or visited. If they are connected to you that is all we need to know.

The window will go up this weekend so give me a call, send me an e-mail or a fax and let me know you have a picture to share. I will come pick it up (and get it back to you.)

Be sure to come downtown during Operation Celebration 2010 and look over the display. I think you will like it.

— Susan Marshall