Author Linda McCann

An election day 2019 soup luncheon will be featured at the Toledo Public Library, 206 e. High St., on Tuesday Nov. 5. Serving will be from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Proceeds from a free will donation go to the Library Foundation to aid in bring future programs to the library.

On Thursday, Nov. 7, at 2p.m. Author Linda McCann will lead a discussion at the library of her book, “Prisoners of War in Iowa.” The event is free and open to the public.

She writes and talks about these events and other parts of local and state history to preserve the stories for future generations.

“They need to know how things were,” McCann says. “To me, it helps them understand what’s going on and hopefully be prepared for things. That’s truly why I write, for these grandkids and your grandkids. We do have to tell them these stories.”

All told, there were about 465,000 POWs who were held in camps throughout the U.S. during World War II. In Iowa, as elsewhere, the prisoners were treated well by the U.S., although there were plenty of occasions for tensions and suspicions, too, from wary members of the public and military leaders fearful of escape attempts.