Karen Zale was given the opportunity to tell an important story through “The Write Stuff” program at Franklinville’s Blount Library.
That story was about her father, a World War II vet who survived the torture of being a prisoner of war and, later, the torture of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. That story became The Will To Survive 433, which Zale self-published.
The library’s “The Write Stuff” program provided equipment and a space for aspiring authors to work towards publication of books of their own. A $1,400 grant from the Community Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation helped to purchase computers, flash drives and books helped make the program possible.
At the program’s conclusion, Zale had completed the book about her father’s life.
John Zubryzcki Zale enlisted in the army at 18. He fought bravely in the Pacific Theater during WWII until being captured by the Japanese in the Philippines.
Along with 75,000 other American and Filipino prisoners, Zubrycki Zale were forced to march 85 miles to the Island of Bataan in an infamous, torturous event now remembered as the Bataan Death March.
After his liberation from imprisonment, Zurycki Zale returned home and stared a family. But the horrors of war affected him long after.
That story comprises Zale’s book, which has since sold over 500 copies, with all of the proceeds going to the WNY Heroes Foundation to support veterans.
Recently, Zale was invited to attend the Armed Forces Day Luncheon in Buffalo, where she was asked to sign copies of her book for two general officers from the Pentagon.
Donations can be made to support like projects to the Community Fund at CRCF, 301 North Union St., Suite 203, or online at cattfoundation.org.
For 25 years, the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation has been the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).
