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Thursday, December 13, 2018

Christmas 1945.

In case you blinked at that headline, it is a rather popular topic.  It is actually the title of a book written by Don Bracken.  It was America’s first Christmas after the horrors of WWII.  With the troops coming home, America “lit up”.  President Harry Truman set a precedent by declaring a four-day weekend for government workers.

Loved ones who had not been seen for as much as four years were home or on the way. The Army and Navy initiated "Operation Magic Carpet," sending tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors and Marines to separation points in Europe and the Pacific, then launched "Operation Santa Claus" to get Americans home by plane, train, ship or anything else that moved.

It was at this time that our late patriarch Joe Bellocchio Sr. returned from the South Pacific having served in the Army.  See his strikingly handsome post-war photo on our website under the history tab at www.arrowbodyandfender.com.  It has been well over 70 years, but Arrow Body and Fender continues to serve Chicagoland from our shop located at 7536 W. Grand Ave. in Elmwood Park.  Merry Christmas from our family to yours. 

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