Author House Gold Stars & Purple Hearts

Gold Stars and Purple Hearts-the War Dead of the Ravenna, Nebraska Area is a compilation of biographies of the young men from a little town in south-central Nebraska and immediate surrounding area who died while serving their country. The author begins the journey when the town came into being in 1886 and takes the reader up to war in Iraq. She has included a section of her remembrances of the Vietnam war from a fifth grader to young adult perspective. The biographies were compiled from meticulous research in the local newspaper archives, personal remembrances from the families and friends of the deceased, and letters written by the men. The author has also interwoven events from the little town that occurred during the war years. At times she has just exposed the local events with world events to give the book a well rounded flavor. As the author is an avid animal lover and advocate, she has included sections on the animal heroes and helpers in the various wars. Additionally, this book includes references to men and women who survived the wars and returned to their hometown to lead long and productive lives. The book is richly illustrated with photographs of the deceased, their final resting places, and current military memorials of the area. After reading this book, the reader will feel as if they knew these young men who gave their lives while serving their country.