Best Gift Books for Veterans Day
VETERANS DAY is observed annually on November 11 to honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. While Memorial Day honors those who died while in service, Veterans Day honors all military veterans, including those still with us.
In 2021, Stephanie Fenton writes about the origins of the holiday.
Front Edge Publishing is proud to have published these …
Best Gift Books for Veterans Day
Finding My Pole Star: Memoir of an American Hero’s Life of Faithful Military Service
Major General James Lee Dozier is a retired U.S. Army officer who served 35 years with the U.S. Army and NATO in the United States, Europe and Asia. In 1981 he was kidnapped by terrorists in Italy and held for 42 days before being rescued—a news story that made front-page headlines around the world. Now, in Finding My Pole Star, Dozier tells his own story of those traumatic events, while inspiring readers with timeless values that can help us to thrive while facing our fears. Over many years, he has shared these lessons through his service in the military, in the corporate world and in mentoring thousands of high school students. Now, through this memoir, he shares these timeless values with all of us.
Rear Admiral A. Scott Logan, Ret. said, “This book is a must-read account of a highly accomplished and effective leader in both military and community pursuits. It provides a road map for all individuals who desire to develop and pursue their own life-long Pole Star as their guiding light for an ethical, meaningful and successful life of service to God, community and all mankind.”
The Black Knight: An African American Family’s Journey from West Point
In 2019 Front Edge Publishing was honored to publish the memoir of another true American hero, Ret. Col. Clifford Worthy. Col. Worthy is the oldest living African American graduate from West Point military academy. Col Worthy’s memoir, The Black Knight: An African-American Family’s Journey from West Point—a Life of Duty, Honor and Country takes readers through his memorable life as the great-grandson of American slaves to his distinguished career in the U.S. Army.
In the book’s Foreword, the late, former U.S. Rep. John Dingell, Jr. wrote, “This memoir of retired Col. Cliff Worthy may seem like the story of one family, but it really is the story of many American families. Cliff’s story reminds all of us that—at our best as Americans—we are called to help each other build a stronger, healthier community. America’s great strength is that we come together here—we come together in all of our wonderful diversity, reflecting our families’ origins in places around the world.”
100 Questions & Answers about Veterans
In 2015, we teamed up with the Michigan State University School of Journalism’s Bias Busters and published 100 Questions and Answers about Veterans, part of our ongoing series of cultural competence guide books. Series Editor, Joe Grimm wrote about this special volume in the Bias Busters series in this ReadTheSpirit magazine cover story. As you’ll read in Joe’s story, understanding veterans and their very special circumstances is key.
The Foreword to 100 Questions and Answers About Veterans was written by U.S. Army veteran and Dancing With The Stars Champion, motivational speaker and author, J.R. Martinez. In all of his work, J.R. encourages civilians to ask veterans questions.
“Listen and try not to judge or to let your perceptions get in the way of our answers. And in turn, we will allow ourselves to understand that it is our duty to teach. It’s a partnership we will all have to agree on to shorten the distance between our two worlds.”
To see the entire Bias Busters series, please visit the Amazon Bias Busters Series page.
What Belongs To God: Reflections on Peacemaking by a Conscientious Objector
Earlier this year ReadTheSpirit Books, an imprint of Front Edge Publishing, published the multi-media memoir of the late David Edwards. David was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war. The Department of Defense defines conscientious objection as a “firm, fixed, and sincere objection to participation in war in any form or the bearing of arms, by reason of religious training and/or belief”
David Edwards explained his position in the very first chapter of his memoir, “In the winter and spring of 1970, I applied to the Selective Service System as a conscientious objector (CO) to war in any form, based on my religious beliefs. Nothing I have heard, read or seen since then has modified that decision. My objection to war and participation in the military, though gradual in its unfolding, came with complete clarity. Certainly, there have been many times when I have re-examined and been questioned about that decision. However, I have always returned to the fundamental convictions that I am not created to kill or be part of killings, whether in a uniform or not. I believe this to be true for all human beings. Recent events in our country, acts of war and the uprising of the militaristic and nationalistic spirit, have led me once more to revisit my life as one who has grown increasingly wary of that spirit.”
In the spring of 1970 David Edwards’ application for “alternative service ” based on his objection to serving in the military on religious grounds was approved by his local draft board. David served two years of civilian alternative service at Boston Children’s Hospital/Medical Center. David worked in the shipping and receiving department for a few months and then as a nurse’s assistant in the cardiac medical and surgical division. Those two years were life changing for David and led him to a path in the ministry. As he says in his memoir, “Those two years probably were the most intense, focused and challenging of my life. In the end, I did enter seminary, yet often referred to the Boston years and the hospital work as my real spiritual, as well as theological, education and training.”
Finding My Pole Star, The Black Knight, What Belongs To God and 100 Questions and Answers About Veterans are available for purchase on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com and from independent bookstores everywhere. Please let us know if we can help you with bulk orders of either book or if you’d like to inquire about a custom edition of either for your business, church or school.