History Book
Resident’s childhood stamp
collection used to teach young
people about WWII
STORY AND PHOTOS
BY STEPHEN VRATTOS
“He doesn’t want the
world to forget,” said
Harriet Kaplan of
her husband Seymour’s crusade
to teach the next generation about
World War II via a unique history album
Kaplan created using his childhood
stamp collection, entitled
“World War II Remembered.”
A recent arrival at North
Shore Towers, Kaplan boasts
two ancestors who fought in
The Battle of the Bulge, among
other relatives who served.
His brother Bernie Kaplan,
was a Warrant Officer in the
Army reserves with the 77th
Infantry Division. He was
called to active duty serving
in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
during Operation Desert
Shield/Desert Storm.
Seymour joined the ROTC
(Reserved Officers Training
Corps) as a student at City
College, when the Korean
War broke out in 1950. He
completed four years of ROTC
training and began his active
duty as a Second Lieutenant
at Fort Benning, Georgia, which
included basic training. His service
included 16 months (November
1955 to April 1957) stationed at
Camp Casey near the Demilitarized
Zone (DMZ), separating North
from South Korea.
While in Korea, he served as a
counter fire platoon leader with the
31st Infantry Regiment. When he
completed his active duty, Kaplan
joined the active Reserves in the
77th Infantry Division. After 30
years, he retired in 1985 with the
rank of Colonel.
Kaplan began collecting stamps
as a teen. At the height of his hobby,
Kaplan estimates having more
than 10,000 covers, everything
from military-themed to celebrity
stamps, honoring the likes of
Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.
Early on, he developed a passion
for First Day Covers, which are
envelopes featuring new stamps,
released and canceled on their
date of issue. For a stamp’s debut,
the U.S. Postal Service selected a
place related to the stamp’s subject
matter, holding a ceremony there
to honor its release. Over the years
Kaplan gave away the brunt of his
collection, donating it to such
organizations as Father Flanagan’s
Boys Home, but kept the nearly one
thousand pieces used in “World
War II Remembered.”
A few years ago, Kaplan got
the idea to use his collection as a
vehicle for teaching young people
about World War II, which he felt
many were forgetting. He oversaw
the development of the album with
the invaluable help of his Brotherin
Law, Lou Siegel. He devoted
hours scanning Kaplan’s collection,
compiling additional archival images
and laying out the book, as well
as creating a free website of the
archive for anyone with access to
an internet connection.
At his own expense, Kaplan also
printed and constructed bound copies
of the tome, which he distributes
to schools and organizations.
Shortly after the album’s completion,
Kaplan created an expanded
edition adding dozens of pages
dedicated to Jewish/American participation
in World War II. Several
printed copies of the expanded
edition have been given to Hofstra
University Hillel where Kaplan’s
nephew, Rabbi Dave Siegel is the
Executive Director and serves as
the Jewish University Chaplain.
“World War II Remembered”
is an impressive accomplishment,
lavishly illustrated and
packed with fascinating stories
and photos from World War II.
It’s an incredible read everyone
from a World War II neophyte to
its most seasoned expert, never
mind a philatelist’s dream.
Kaplan has no intention of
trying to get hard copies of the
book published, but is open to
any interest. He has made the
book free to everyone via the
internet, so future generations
will never forget.
“World War II Remembered”
can be accessed at http://www.
lousiegel.net/WWII.html
Kaplan and “World War II
Remembered”
“World War II Remembered”
captures not just the war, but the
entire era
Page featuring First Day Cover
honoring Jewish Baseball great
and famous WWII American spy,
Moe Berg
One of the many albums in which Kaplan stores his First Day Covers
December 2018 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 17
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