A tale of true Iowa sacrifice

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September 30, 2009

Mahaska Reads program to focus on WW II's Sullivan brothers

By ANDY GOODELL The Oskaloosa Herald Wed Sep 30, 2009, 10:50 AM CDT

OSKALOOSA — Don’t forget their sacrifice.

This year’s Mahaska County Reads program, sponsored by the Oskaloosa Public Library, will focus on five of Iowa’s finest. The program will encourage local residents to read “Band of Brothers: The Sullivans of World War II.” Mahaska County Reads is a month-long promotion of a single book by the library. The library has dozens of copies of the book and there are numerous activities centered around it.

The book tells the real-life story of five brothers from Waterloo who enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. All five died on the same day, which led to regulations forbidding brothers from serving on the same military vessel.

“Last year we did a book about the Villisca axe murders,” explained Holland. “It was our most popular year ever. People seemed to really connect with that title and I tend to think it was because it was an Iowa story rather than ‘true crime.’ So we went with another Iowa story this time.”

Holland said this book was chosen out of respect for those who served in World War II.

“I think it is important we do this book now because we have so few World War II veterans left,” she said. “I think it’s very important we don’t forget the sacrifices that generation made for us. I don’t think anybody made a greater sacrifice than the Sullivan family of Waterloo.”

In the past five years this program has been offered, Holland said choosing which book to promote is critical. Finding a book that appeals to younger and older readers is key, she said. It’s also important for the book to transcend gender and any other defining characteristic readers may have, added Holland.

In the past, books have been nominated and pitted against one another in a public vote. This year, library staff chose the book.

“We wanted something about Iowa and we wanted something that would have broad appeal,” Holland said.

Everyone in the community is encouraged to read the same book at the same time for a reason, Holland said.

“It opens the door to conversation,” she said. “If you know certain people are reading a particular book, you can talk to each other at the grocery store about the book. You can have a lot of impromptu conversations.”

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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com