The Empty Rocker
“We all do a lot of
planning for the future and I’ve done a lot of thinking along that line myself.
I fear that I’ll never be able to
go back to the classroom and earn my living there again.”
Bill Allen in letter
sent to Aunt Mabel November 12, 1944
When we study war in school, we always talk about the
“soldiers.” We talk about how many “soldiers” die. We need to remember these
soldiers are sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters, who are lost to
families.
As young children play, parents smile and dream about their
future. This little rocker belonged to William Allen as a child. I am sure
after his death in WW2, his mother and father looked at this empty rocker and
thought about the hopes and dreams they had for a little Bill. Not just
soldiers sacrificed but their families did too.
Elizabeth (Bill's sister) wrote the following about her
brother:
He set aside his future plans
His every youthful hope and dream
He set aside his future plans
His every youthful hope and dream
He visioned all mankind his friends
And gave for them the gift supreme.
And gave for them the gift supreme.
this is a touching memorial.
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