Dearest Reader,

Among the wartime newspaper clippings preserved by my parents is this article about Lt. Douglas McKee of Martinsburg, West Virginia. The reason this one would have been saved is because Martinsburg was my father’s hometown, and throughout their lives my parents kept newspaper articles that helped preserve the stories of communities that shaped their families.  

The article reports that Lt. McKee, a young Army Air Force pilot, had been declared missing in action over Germany during World War II. For families and communities across America, such notices were among the most difficult wartime news to receive. A serviceman listed as missing left loved ones in a state of uncertainty.

Local newspapers closely followed the experiences of servicemen from the community, reporting on promotions, awards, injuries and losses. These articles helped residents maintain a connection with those serving far from home. My parents were preserving a piece of the history of the town my father considered home.