Honoring Those Who Served by Barbara M. Britton

Honoring Those Who Served

by Barbara M. Britton

 

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for veterans. Maybe it’s because I grew up during the Vietnam War. I remember images of jungles on the television, and I watched a few blockbuster movies about POWs and those missing in action. Vietnam Veterans didn’t receive an exuberant “Welcome home” as we see in the media today.

My father served in the Canadian Air Force as a navigator, and my son currently serves in the Army Reserves, so my path still connects to veterans.

For my twentieth wedding anniversary, my husband and I sailed to Alaska aboard a cruise ship. We visited the Taku Glacier Lodge outside of Juneau. We had lunch at the lodge which sat on the banks of the Taku River. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that a wounded WWI veteran, Leigh Hackley “Hank” Smith, and his caregiver lived at the lodge for many years.

When the Taku River froze, the veteran and his caregiver were cut off from society. To pass the time, they raised sledding dogs. After Hank passed away, his caregiver, Mary Joyce, drove a sled team 1,000 miles from Juneau to Fairbanks.

As I listened to this incredible history, I thought “A man and a woman alone in a lodge.” My fictional story UNTIL JUNE was born.

Through my character Geoff Chambers, I highlighted the struggle of a veteran who comes home from war with severe wounds—those seen and those unseen. His caregiver might not have been as experienced as Mary Joyce, but Josephine tries her best at nursing Geoff back to health. Medical advances for prosthetics and pain treatment have come a long way since 1918, and you will see some of the early drawbacks in my story.

Geoff and Josephine live in a lodge on Douglas Island similar to the Taku Glacier lodge. I moved my characters away from the Taku River, so a protective steamboat captain could visit the lodge.

May we always remember the sacrifice and service of our veterans. It takes many skilled people to protect our country. While we sleep and go about our lives, they work to keep us safe. With Veterans Day almost upon us, remember the men and women who presently serve, or have served, our country. If you see one, bestow a hearty “Thank you for your service.”

 

 

When seventeen-year-old seamstress, Josephine Nimetz, agrees to take care of a WWI amputee in a remote Alaskan lodge, there’s enough friction to melt the Mendenhall Glacier. Her position is only until June, and it pays well enough to overlook the hardship of managing a rustic home and a shell-shocked veteran.

Geoff Chambers makes it clear that he isn’t too fond of the runt sent to take care of his needs, nor of her painful mistakes. Dealing with a depressed and addicted veteran, pushes Josephine to the brink of leaving, if not for the money her salary brings.

But Josephine is a perfectionist, determined to get Geoff back on his feet—figuratively…Although, sending a rich, handsome veteran back into society may cost Josephine the man she has grown to love.

UNTIL JUNE is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

 

 

 

Barbara M. Britton not only loves to write about the Bible, but she has also taught Bible stories for over thirty years. She is multi-published in Christian Fiction where she brings little-known Bible stories to light, or she makes you swoon with her sweet romances. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

Barbara lives in Wisconsin with her husband of almost four decades and an indulged cat. Her sons are grown but they still come home and request their favorite recipes. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website, barbarambritton.com.