for
the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts
November
1, 2002
|
'War Letters' reading honors veterans by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff
dramatic reading of selections from the best seller
"War Letters" will include writing from a former University
employee during the performance Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. The readings,
part of the Veterans Education Project's 20th anniversary Veterans
Day Event, will be performed in the Flavin Family Auditorium, 137
Isenberg School of Management.Writing by the late Leo Lessard, a University employee for 22 years who served as a custodian at the School of Management and who ran the curtain at Bowker Auditorium, is among the letters to be read. Lessard's daughter, Theater typist Denise Wagner, will be among the readers. Spanning conflicts from the Revolutionary War through recent military efforts in Bosnia, the letters reveal the feelings and experiences of men and women engaged in war. "Whether they deal with everyday happenings, profess devotion to spouses, mourn lost comrades, display incredible courage, denounce tyrants, or reveal the humanity of a once-hated enemy, these letters provide pure and eye-opening insights into the realities, sacrifices and emotional costs of war, as they highlight the remarkable challenges faced by the men and women who must endure it," said Rob Wilson, director of the Veterans Education Project. "It ...will be a very engaging and very moving learning experience, regardless of one's political perspective or gender, [and] the audience...will have an opportunity for lively dialogue during [the] discussion." Three veterans whose letters appear in the book will be on hand to share personal stories related to the letters. Fritz Schnaittacher, who fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s, returned as a soldier during World War II and participated in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. George Williams served in the U.S. Army Infantry in the Iron Triangle region during the Vietnam War. And Angela Atchison, '85, who was in ROTC while at the University, worked in chemical/biological weapons protection for the U.S. Army during Desert Storm. The volume's editor, Andrew Carroll, will provide commentary on the readings and will be available for book signing at a reception following the readings. Other readers include students Chad Cabaniol and Devon McArdle and Emmy-nominated screenwriter Daniel Giat, who wrote the HBO film "Path to War." A discussion will follow the readings and commentary. The event is sponsored by the Theater and History departments and the Isenberg School of Management. The readings are free, and a donation is requested of reception attendees. For more information, call 253-4947. |
