Arts & Entertainment

Farmingdale Resident Nominated for Reader's Digest Feature

John Galanoudis' story from World War II is being considered for publication.

The life story of Farmingdale resident John Galanoudis is one of the 150-word life stories being considered for publication in an upcoming issue of Reader’s Digest.

The feature is part of Reader’s Digest effort called “Your Life...The Reader’s Digest Version” celebrating the launch of the new book, “Life... The Reader’s Digest Version."

The opportunity allows resident's personal stories to be seen by more than 30 million readers and offers a major cash award. Several runner-up stories will also receive attention and cash prizes. 

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Stories will be voted on by readers and winners will ultimately be selected by Reader’s Digest editors. Readers can vote for Galanoudis’s story at facebook.com/ReadersDigest

The story of Galanoudis is titled “If It's Not Your Time to Die” and can be read below:

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On a Greek Island, Chios, 1942, I was 7. My father, an Army Officer, was among 60 Officers the occupying German Army had rounded up on the Island, telling them that if one of them escaped from the Island, the families of the remaining would be lined up against a wall and shot dead. They were reporting to the Germans every afternoon at 2:30 for 2 months to "sign in," assuring the Germans no escapes. But, they were meeting secretly every morning at 7:30 until,one day, a "single" officer escaped. There was no time except push the buttons that were already set-up. We all left our homes open, lights on, gathered in a citrus area, streets with 12-Ft walls on both sides. A German truck with searchlights lit up the wall opposite where about 180 to 200 souls had lined up for Freedom. Thank God they missed us!


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