Historic Letters Get Responses
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Many years ago, an old woman named Peggy Ford wrote letters to some men. The men were soldiers who were fighting in the Vietnam War. The soldiers were in combat, far way from their home. They missed their families, and they liked to get the letters from Peggy. Peggy also kept the letters that the soldiers wrote back to her.
Peggy Ford died more than 30 years ago. Earlier this year, Ford’s children discovered the letters in her attic. They decided to donate the letters to a history museum. The museum is happy to have the letters. They feel that the soldiers’ stories of the war are valuable. They tell the story of the war better than anyone else could. The museum feels that it’s important to remember the war. The letters show a personal perspective of the war. They are a valuable part of history.
A news station filmed a story about Peggy Ford and the letters. The story was posted on the internet. Many people saw the story, and read about Ford’s letters to the soldiers. The story made other people want to donate letters. Many people called the museum. They offered to donate their letters from that era. One woman gave the museum more than 200 letters that she wrote to her husband while he was stationed in Vietnam. She had saved them for many years. She thought others would be interested in them.
Peggy Ford was a kind, caring woman. Her letters to the soldiers made them feel better. One woman thinks Ford is an inspiration. She is urging others to write to soldiers in Iraq. She says that a letter would bring a smile to a soldier’s face. Cookies and other treats could be sent with the letters. Small gifts and letters would make the soldiers feel better. She plans to write many letters to soldiers, just as Ford did many years ago. She believes that it’s important to say thank you to the soldiers. She thinks the letters would be a good way to do that. She knows that the soldiers appreciate the letters.
The history museum is still interested in Vietnam-era letters written to or from soldiers. The workers there suggest that people contact their local history center or museum if they have similar letters. Letters like Peggy Ford's are considered pieces of history. They tell us about a time in history by the the people living through it.
(This was adapted from an original story provided by News10 KXTV Sacramento.)