Dear Soldier    by  the 4th Graders of St. Pius X School 2004/05
 
REVIEWS:
 

Dear Soldier review from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Dear Soldier review from Maria Shriver.

Dear Soldier review from Bill Clinton.

Dear Soldier review from Laura Bush.

Dear Soldier provides a window to the thoughts and hearts of children, their curiosity and concerns for our soldiers in Iraq. Reading it is a healing experience for our war-weary world.

-Dr. Christine Aranda


I found the book Dear Soldier to be a book that touched my heart. The letters showed support for the brave men and women who serve us in the United States military. Dear Soldier was beautifully put together! I am very proud of our fourth grade for their fine work and for all the prayers offered for our soldiers. I thank their teacher, Mrs. Patacsil for presenting this assignment to the fourth grade. And, I thank Mrs. Quiroga, a parent volunteer, for all her help with this classroom project.

-Mrs. Eileen Hanson
  School Principal

It remains both a sad fact of life and a reflection on our so-called civilized world that our children cannot have an inheritance free from the prospect of war. This book is both tragic and timely. Giving voice to the truth of young, it sparkles with love and new hope. Written and published by children, it breathes their empathy for all combatants on the front line. Apart from the ever-present dangers, it stresses the pain of separation from loved ones. Devoid of political rationales, it focuses the quest and the desire of the heart for peace on earth. Hunkering down in the calm moments after battle, soldiers will find solace and a smile as they read through its pages. Some may even pay particular heed to the advice to “keep your helmet on to be safe!”  Though it deals with the current conflict in Iraq, this book anchors itself in the sad history of previous wars. Pictures of soldiers currently in combat mingle with those who have gone before in a rich and colorful tapestry of art and presentation. “Dear Soldier” deserves a wide circulation and readership.

- Father Patrick Ryan