Literary Tribute: Amazing Americans!

On a recent trip to New York City, my daughter and I took a tour of Ground Zero and my eyes went immediately to the flag hanging amidst the construction. Memories of countless baseball games with my hand to my heart and my eyes directed to the flag came to mind.

But on that New York City tour bus, like nowhere else in my life before,I wanted to sing Francis Scott Key’s “Star Spangled Banner” and truly understand the meaning behind his poem.

Viewing the New York Trade Tower destruction, my thoughts went to all of the people who watched the devastation, or died, or lost loved ones while the flames of the tragedy burned into our country’s heart.

Indeed, it was flames of another time which inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem in valiant defense against Fort McHenry whose flames were visible 40 miles to Baltimore.

Yet, as the first anniversary of Ground Zero approached, I began to wonder what I could do besides gawk on a tour bus, viewing a place where a war of another kind occurred:

2001. Ground Zero.

What could I write about that would help people reach out for an understanding of our past and present?

Then it hit me! A flame of another kind: a quiet memorial candled in words.

Indeed, on June 10, 1815, a little under a year after the attack on Washington, upon the massive burning of the Capitol library, Thomas Jefferson wrote the following memorable words to John Adams:

“I cannot live without books.”

He was true to his words and sent his leather-bound library to the Capitol building where it became the beginnings of the Library of Congress.

So, imagine my delight upon my first visit to the Library of Congress’s website, which chronicles the lives of “Amazing Americans” (http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/p... and takes the viewer to books about such Americans as Amelia Earhart, W.E.B.Dubois, Thomas Edison, Langston Hughes, and many others.

Additionally, I learn that Washington, D.C. will be the center of a National Book Festival coming up next month on October 12 on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The list of great authors is impressive.

As I scanned through the representation, I decided to select four categories and four authors that would represent the diversity and struggle of Americans.

In the children’s category, I would suggest the book by Japanese born Allen Say who wrote a book for children called the Home of The Brave.

In the biography and fiction category, I would recommend any of Tim O’Brien’s books, an author famous for his work related to the Vietnamese War, particularly If I Die in a Combat Zone, Pack Me in a Box and Send Me Home.

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