A St. John’s woman shares remarkable stories of resilience and determination
The distinguished gentleman smiles from under his wide-brimmed dress cap. His American military uniform dating near the end of World War II doesn’t name him, but a prominent star on the left-arm crest of the sharply-pressed shirt indicates a technical sergeant air force rank. His strong arms cradle a strikingly pretty young child sporting a stylish hairdo, dark short-sleeved dress, a charming grin, and metal and leather leg braces. The soldier carries her in a kind gesture since her legs have failed unexpectedly due to the scourge of the polio epidemic rampant at the time.
It’s vintage visual storytelling at its finest. I assume the characters came straight out of Hollywood central casting, the poster emerging from the great advertising houses that ruled Madison Avenue in New York City. I was wrong on both counts.
This remarkable image is young Marion Woodford (nee Hawco) of St. John’s, NL, (originally from Harbour Main) taken in 1948 at the American Base in Argentia (near Placentia). Marion’s father was employed as a civilian Superintendent of docks and her family lived on the base for some years. Marion was a happy, well-liked child, eventually selected Poster Child for the famous “March of Dimes” campaign. The immense impact and reach of the March of Dimes poster to combat polio in children of that era is hard to imagine today.
To learn about the poster I chatted with Marion’s brother John Hawco of Brooklin, Ontario. “My sister Marion is very modest and would never say this herself, but she’s remarkable,” he says with pride. “Not just for appearing in that poster, which was an honour capturing a special moment in history, but for many things throughout her entire life. She shows incredible determination and quiet resolve in everything she tackles.
“I remember her as a child using crutches to walk to and from the family home in Gallows Cove along hilly, gravel roads to attend school. It was a long, hard path for those with two good legs, let alone Marion. She also walked to wharves and went out in boats and nothing stopped her. She was inspirational with the value she placed on learning, education, and inclusion.”
John explains that his sister was successful in multiple careers. A medical secretary to one of the province’s top orthopedic surgeons, she was recognized as “The Handicapped Person of the Year” in 1968. Marion and husband Mark, who retired from banking, went on to develop a Tim Horton’s franchise in St. John’s.
“Our family remains deeply moved by the compassion of U.S. servicemen and civilian workers in 1948,” John adds, explaining that fundraisers collected over four thousand dollars to send Marion to President Franklin Roosevelt’s Warm Springs, Georgia, Polio rehabilitation facility. “While not cured, the treatment gave Marion greater mobility using crutches and braces and enabled her to live a full and very active life. Marion certainly made the most of those opportunities and is an amazing lady.”
Marion and Mark graciously meet with me in their comfortable residence in St. John’s. She is working on an intricate puzzle of a thousand pieces and I notice several other boxes neatly arrayed indicating this is a popular pursuit for her.
Marion, age 84 at this writing, regales me with tales while showing beautiful archival photos and souvenirs from her childhood.
Prominent are images from Argentia and her initial trip to Warm Springs. Wonderful photos appear of awards won, weddings attended and children and grandchildren raised. Similar to her beloved puzzles, they all constitute important pieces of a successful life.
In her childhood photographs, Marion flashes a trademark smile that she displays. “You know I have so many stories I would love to write a book. Maybe a writer who specializes in biographies will see this and help me get started,” she beams.
“I was very fortunate everyone helped me and I can’t thank them enough. Especially Technical Sergeants William Davis and Fred Nicolle and Base Chaplain Voight Sink of Fort McAndrew Air Force Base in Argentia. They had dances and a huge bingo that raised the original $4200 to send me to Warm Springs for surgery and treatment. I’d love to hear from any of their family members or any others who helped me.
Leaving home at the age of eight in the summer of 1948 for treatment, Marion jokes she left home a Newfoundlander and returned as a Canadian when she touched down in Argentia in June 1949 (Newfoundland joined Confederation with Canada while Marion was away).
“It was incredible to be welcomed home by hundreds of people at the runway to meet my plane. I am so grateful and will never forget.”
Marion would return to the United States in January 1950 to appear on the American Broadcasting Comp-any (ABC) national radio program in Washington Time for Defense about the March of Dimes.
“We went to several other cities and I met a lot of radio and movie stars,” she recalls, sharing a story of a meeting with A-list movie star John Wayne. “He was very nice and promoting his 1949 movie The Sands of Iwo Jima. He wanted a photo with me for the paper while putting money in the donation box. John Wayne searched everywhere and he forgot his wallet and didn’t have a cent. He had to borrow money from the photographer and I always have a chuckle when I think about that photo. I don’t know if the photographer ever got his money back.”
Marion notes that she and her family were shown tremendous respect during their time in the U.S., explaining that “the American military even had a special honour guard escort me. I used to tell the soldiers in that group they were “My Honour Guard” which made them smile since they would be usually escorting major politicians and visiting dignitaries and not a little girl.”
I ask Marion about her success in life, despite the challenges of polio, and she gets a wistful look. “I was always very determined and an independent person who worked hard at everything,” she explains. “I didn’t feel any different than anyone else and really went after the goals I set. I like to say the word “no” is not in my vocabulary. I always kept a sense of humour and gratitude. I was very fortunate to have wonderful family and friends who supported me in whatever I tried. It all made me resilient to deal with whatever came, good or bad.”
As we say goodbye I take a photo of Marion Woodford holding a copy of her famous March of Dimes poster. Above her is a black-and-white image of herself as a little girl, standing tall and proud with only the aid of her crutches. Despite the passing years, the sense of playfulness in her eyes and the knowing half smile remains unchanged. In many ways, Marion Woodford is still a poster person for progress.
Like the little girl in the photo, her legacy of perseverance and the shining example of friendship and cooperation between American soldiers and Newfoundlanders it represents stands tall.
