Original Item. Only One Available. World War II, which the United States entered after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, was characterized by a significantly greater use of civil defense. Even before the attack, the Council of National Defense was reactivated by President Roosevelt and created the Division of State and Local Cooperation to further assist the Council's efforts. Thus, the civil defense of World War II began very much as a continuation of that of World War I. Very soon, however, the idea of local and state councils bearing a significant burden became viewed as untenable and more responsibility was vested at the federal level with the creation of the Office of Civilian Defense (OCD) within the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) in the Executive Office of the President (EOP) on May 20, 1941. The OCD was originally headed by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and was charged with promoting protective measures and elevating national morale.

This is a great early Cold War era painted steel sign for a Civil Defense Message Center in Los Angeles, California. The sign was painted by J.C. Gury Co., which was founded in 1949. So this sign dates to the early Cold War.

The sign has a painted Civil Defense insignia next to “MESSAGE CENTER”. There is paint loss in the blue circle and some minor red paint loss. 

A great sign, measuring 10 x 19⅞”. Ready for display.