A Thousand Letters Home October 2
On Thursday, October 2 the Clinton County Senior Center, located at 201 E Walker Street in St. Johns will host Teresa K. Irish, author of A Thousand Letter Home. Ms. Irish will present the inspirational and life-affirming story.
Following the 2006 death of her father, Aarol W. “Bud” Irish, of Saginaw, MI, Teresa opened the Army trunk that had resided in the family home her entire life. There, nestled in row after row, were her dad’s nearly 1,000 letters from WWII. Visited only by him over the course of six decades, the letters were postmarked from Nov. 1942 to Dec. 1945.
The fragile and yellowed pages were written to Bud’s parents back in Hemlock, MI, and to the sweetheart who would later become his wife. From lonesome, moonlit nights listening to the Hit Parade, to the foxholes and front lines in Germany where Bud would receive the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart, to correspondence with the heartbroken mothers whose sons died by his side, this is a moving and historic story of life and loss, hope and perseverance, unwavering faith, and true love. A Thousand Letters Home is comprised of 320 of these poignant letters and 104 corresponding photographs.
The firsthand account through the eyes, heart and words of one soldier mirrors the journeys of many who served in WWII. From training camps across the U.S.A., to Ports of Embarkation where they boarded ships and crossed the ocean to fight on foreign soil, millions of young Americans were abruptly pulled from civilian life and thrust into the unfamiliar world of a military at war. At every opportunity, Bud poured his thoughts and feelings into his letters, all amidst reassuring words to loved ones a world away.
Unable or perhaps reluctant to recount what they had experienced, many veterans chose to spare their loved ones the detailed atrocities of war – these would be their own personal burdens to bear for the remainder of their lives. Bud foreshadowed this in a letter to his parents written from Europe on February 4, 1945, “…Heaven knows they [soldiers] don’t want anything more on earth than to get it over and go back to their loved ones…We don’t want anything extra when we get home, but just want to find everything as we left it and forget everything that’s happened or we’ve seen over here…”
A Thousand Letters Home was named Reviewer’s Choice by Midwest Book Review Small Press Bookwatch, and was recognized by Writer’s Digest Self Published Book Awards. In addition to selecting ATLH for the 2013 Recommended Reading List, The Military Writers Society of America called it “a fascinating book…a treasure trove,” and concluded “highly recommend.” Ms. Irish has been the featured speaker/author at over 165 venues, and has appeared on ABC News, NPR, Veterans Radio, Frontlines of Freedom, Military Author Radio, and the nationally syndicated National Defense show.
The story of The Journey of the Letters has been reported in newspapers throughout the country. The book’s introduction, letter excerpts, speaker/reader reviews, and photo gallery may be viewed at www.AThousandLettersHome.com.
Born in Saginaw, MI, Teresa Irish is a 1984 graduate of Michigan State University. She has worked in higher education administration, the staffing industry, and most recently as a vice-president for a national home healthcare and hospice company. Five-and-a-half years after finding the letters, Irish brought A Thousand Letters Home to print. As the book’s author, publisher and distributor, this has truly been a labor of love.
The book has been printed in hardcover, softcover and e-book formats. Ms. Irish retired in April, 2012 to devote her time to sharing the story through speaking engagements and book events. Ms. Irish lives Northville, MI and is married to COL Bradley J. Foster who is currently serving at U.S. Army Forces Command, Ft. Bragg, NC.
Ms. Irish’s program reaches across generations with a little something for everyone. Her storytelling, accompanied by 1940’s photographs and songs from Waltz Time and Hit Parade, has audiences laughing, crying, reminiscing and reflecting. The presentation is a heartfelt tribute to America’s history, freedoms, family values, and a call to individual citizenship in today’s world.
The event, which is open to the public starts at 12:15 with a light lunch with Ms Irish speaking at 1:00 pm. The cost is $3 per person. Please call the Senior Center at 989-224-4257 in advance to reserve lunch and seating for the program. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
This program is for all Americans . . . Lest we forget.