Making peace at home

Dear Mr Kilmer – Chapter 6

Summer passed quickly with letters to and fro from Mr Kilmer hinting at the soldiers’ fears of the winter and impending death. This made Richard think about Gus enlisting and if the war stretched, he himself might have to fight too. He worried for his family and felt sorry for the soldiers.

School started, and Mrs Hansen announced the patriotic programme of raising funds for the war. She challenged the class to an essay competition titled “How we can help the war effort right here in Turtle Lake” where the winners would be chosen as Lady

Liberty, holding the torch and Doughboy, holding the American flag.

Everyone participated with most people expecting Peggy Mason and Abner Lewis to win. The girls gossiped, and Richard overheard them saying that Hannah would not win as she ‘was a Hun’ and it would be unpatriotic of Mrs Hansen to choose her. This upset

Richard.

As the results were announced,

Mrs Hansen reminded them it was not a popularity contest. The role of Doughboy fell to Richard, who read his essay aloud in class. Most of his classmates clapped politely except for Abner and Harry, who were glowering at Richard. As Mrs Hansen announced Hannah the winner of the role of Lady Liberty, a shocked gasp filled the class. Hannah bravely read her essay about how peace could not be achieved without victory in any war and if they wanted their boys to not have fought and died in vain, then they needed to battle their own prejudices and hatred, learn how to care for all despite differences in race, religion or nationality.

Richard felt swept away by Hannah’s words and clapped enthusiastically at the end, only to realise that he was the only one applauding!