Historic plaque’s return sought in city

Editor, OBSERVER:

A big thanks to our city Historian, Diane Andrasik, for a marvelous lecture on the life of Capt. Charles D. Tinley at the Dunkirk Museum on Veterans Day.

Capt. Tinley was a teacher and then principal of our Industrial High School prior to serving in World War II. Tinley survived the Bataan Death March, only to die of starvation in a POW camp in Japan. There is a monument to him in our Veterans Memorial Park and he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. More of his story can be found at https://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cdtinley.htm compliments of the United States Army.

Another sad part of Capt. Tinley’s story is the fact that there used to be a plaque in his honor inside the old Industrial High School, which has since gone missing. It is not known if someone took it to make sure it survived, or as a souvenir, etc., but I am offering $200 for its donation to the Dunkirk Museum if anyone out there has it, no questions asked. You can contact me at rogerorcutt@gmail.com or at 716-366-8165.

However, I don’t answer the phone because of all the telemarketers, so just start talking and say this is what you’re calling about and I’ll pick up. If I’m not home, just leave a message with a number that I can call you back you at. Our city historian and many others would really like to have Capt. Tinley’s plaque hanging in our Dunkirk museum. He has certainly earned that honor.

Can you or someone you know please help?

ROGER ORCUTT,

Dunkirk