Recruitment ceremony for medical volunteers for Civil Defense medical emergencies

This episode is from the WNYC archives. It may contain language which is no longer politically or socially appropriate.

Unnamed female speaker: Launching the first of what we hope will be several drives to recruit volunteers for nurses and nurses aides for the medical emergency division.


Grover Whalen: Man power is a problem of the first order, particularly when it relates to volunteers. Volunteers need help from the Army. We expect the Army to stop all planes from attacking NYC.


Crittenberger: Civil defense is the protection of the home front by civilians to minimize casualty, preserve civilian support of the war effort. Until wars are outlawed, civil defense and military defense must go hand in hand in the protection of the country. The army encourages every citizen to volunteer.
In the nursing profession, we find all the elements which typify woman at her best. The injured look hopefully to the "angels of mercy." This isn't something that can be organized over night. Necessity of following through on plans made; time has passed for anyone to be casual about civil defense.


Vice Admiral Oscar Badger: The Navy is joined in a joint effort to protect the United States from any attack from any country. Involves a great deal of joint planning. No military operation can be successful without well thought out plans. Different forms of disaster that can overtake a community in unorthodox war.


Wallander: You know the casualties that may result; we shouldn't despair. Many lives can be saved if we follow the rules of the civil defense authorities.


Impellitteri speaks briefly about appropriations.


Unnmaed: We have been very actively engaged in preparing people to an attitude of mind where they will really start to do something about preparing the City of New York. Your city leads the entire country.


Ladies are sworn in.


Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection


WNYC archives id: 71590
Municipal archives id: LT1873