Iraq and Afghanistan Wars author speaks to Fairmont
KETTERING — Students from Fairmont High School and other local schools heard from an award-winning author as part of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Author’s Series.
This is the seventh year that Fairmont students have been a part of the “All-Read” event, which allows students and teachers to share experiences reading the same book and having the opportunity to meet the author in person.
Last Thursday, the school invited teachers and students to hear from featured author David Wood and four combat veterans from the Miami Valley. The schools participating included the Miami Valley School, Chaminade Julienne High School, Stivers School for the Arts, Thurgood Marshall High School, Yellow Springs High School, Meadowdale High School and the Dayton Early College Academy.
Wood’s book, “What Have We Done. The Moral Injury of our Longest Wars,” is the 2017 Nonfiction Winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. He was joined on the stage at this year’s Read-In by Army veteran Loghan Young, Marine Corps veteran Jeremy Dobbins, Army veteran Dave Berry and Army Veteran Ericka Carter, each of whom served in either the war in Iraq or the war in Afghanistan.
In his book, Wood writes about the consequences of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with stories about individuals who served in those conflicts.
“Those in attendance at the Read-In were treated to some eye-opening insights from the panelists about what it is like to serve in a war and the challenges of returning to civilian life once their tours of duty are completed,” district spokeswoman Kari Basson said.
“We thank the Fly With the Doves Program, an initiative started by the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, for its donation of Wood’s book to all those who participated in the 2019 Read-In,” Basson said.