In time it became clear, that all this work to relieve the hunger of the expellees would not be enough. The refugee camps became more and more over-crowded with new arrivals. Families who were reunited after the war, could not lead normal lives under these circumstances. The immigration to America and to other countries was in many ways the only solution. The German-American community was helpless because of the unfavorable immigration laws of the USA, which did not allow any immigration. The tremendous effort and influence of the American Aid Society in Chicago and other similar minded organizations from other cities in the USA was not sufficient to change the refugee situation in Europe. A stronger and larger national organization was required. With the cooperation of the "Displaced Persons Commission"---set up by Congress---on April 20, 1949, an umbrella organization was founded in Chicago: "The National Office of the American Aid Societies for the Displaced Persons of Eastern and Southeastern Europe." The delegates voted for Nick Pesch as president and John C. Meiszner as executive secretary.
Through the efforts of this "National Office", the selfless sacrifice of personal time and resources from individuals and with the assistance from statesmen such as Senator Dirksen, Senator Langer, Senator Douglas, Congressman Sheehan and Congressman Stratton, the law which prevented immigration, was changed. With the cooperation of religious organizations, the first immigration group of expellees arrived on December 20, 1950. In 1953, the "Displaced Persons Act" was enacted and at its expiration in 1956, over 300,000 refugees and expellees had been offered the possibility to immigrate to the United States. During this time, the American Aid Society had become very influential, so much so that only their signature was sufficient to sponsor a person or family for immigration. In all, the American Aid Society in Chicago sponsored 17,000 new immigrants, the majority being sponsored by Peter Paul Reiner and John C. Meiszner as the signators.
Now the American Aid Society found itself with a new task to help these people: to settle them into their new homeland. The meetings of the American Aid Society served to cultivate and to keep the customs and practices of the old homeland and at the same time to teach the customs and practices of their new country. Here the people came together to help one another. Information about work opportunities, housing, news about their countrymen from around the world, and experiences of living in their new homeland were exchanged.
At the same time, the American Aid Society established their Youth Group, to promote customs and traditions and to carry on the practices of their ancestors. A soccer club, the F.C. Fortuna, joined the American Aid Society shortly thereafter.
In order to serve the welfare of our older countryman, the American Aid Society and the German-Hungarian Old Peoples Home Society consolidated in 1960 and formed the "American Aid & Old Peoples Home Society" -- "Die Amerikanische Hilfs und Altenheimvereinigung", which now took over our charitable work. For many years, the maintenance of the Old Peoples Home, was our greatest task. In time, the required help needed to maintain the Old People's Home diminished and it was closed in 1986.
Since 1990, the Old People's Home is now our beloved cultural museum. After the dissolution of the Old People's Home in 1986, the question was, what do we do with this large house? An idea sparked by then President, Richard Gunther, and this idea and this dream was realized on Memorial Day 1990, after three years of hard work and renovation. Only through perseverance and continuous work by our members was this possible. Today this cultural center of original artifacts from the Old Counrty is a special exhibition like no other in America. It consists of 9 rooms, including a chapel and a library, with treasures of the Danube-Swabian heritage.
The American Aid Society continues to help others and strives to keep its history and heritage alive. With our strong membership, our prominent Children's group, our talented Youthgroup, our noble Senior Group, our energetic soccer club, and the main orgainzation, we can look with pride and assurance into the future, and continue to cultivate our customs, culture and traditions in the next 50 years just as we have done in the last 50 years.
The History of the American Aid Society of German Descendants
History Continued.......
