The Flag On The Hilltop

Early in the Civil War, two young brothers boldly flew the Union flag from a tree atop a hill between Makanda and Cobden. This was a towering act of courage in an area teeming with Copperheads. Theodore and Al Thompson, 18 and 20 years old at the time, raised the flag in defiance of the Knights of the Golden Circle, a secessionist group that operated throughout the Midwest. Controlling its membership through terror, this secret society condemned betrayers to death by torture. The Knights, whose goals included capturing a Union prison and liberating the rebels, triggered the Civil War riot in Charleston, instigated anti-draft movements, and aided Northern deserters. Theodore Thompson, who later owned much of Makanda, Giant City, and the land that became Southern Illinois University describes the tree as a "tall tulip poplar between 3 and 4 feet in diameter at the trunk and some 60 feet to the first limbs. This noted tree could be seen in some directions 15 or 20 miles away."

The image of the U.S. Marines raising the Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima may very well be the most famous photograph of all time. While Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal's iconic picture - captured in the final stages of World War II - fuses the men into a single historic unit, they remain six individuals and each was an American woman's precious baby boy From an overall historical viewpoint, given that what we see in the photograph is American teamwork, courage and victory, the individual identities may not matter; nonetheless, each of the six men has a unique background and traveled a distinctive path to reach the summit of Mt. Suribachi. Through exhaustive research into sources public and private, Ron Elliott has detailed the heart-warming and heart-wrenching drama that is the life and legacy of one of the flag raisers, Franklin Runyon Sousley. Sousley's story is related with all the tragedy, humor and excitement that compose the remarkable life of one chosen by fate to be representative of the thousands of Americans who sacrificed so much to preserve our way of life.

An instant classic and eerily prescient cultural phenomenon, from “the patron saint of feminist dystopian fiction” (New York Times). Now an award-winning Hulu series starring Elizabeth Moss. In this multi-award-winning, bestselling novel, Margaret Atwood has created a stunning Orwellian vision of the near future. This is the story of Offred, one of the unfortunate “Handmaids” under the new social order who have only one purpose: to breed. In Gilead, where women are prohibited from holding jobs, reading, and forming friendships, Offred’s persistent memories of life in the “time before” and her will to survive are acts of rebellion. Provocative, startling, prophetic, and with Margaret Atwood’s devastating irony, wit, and acute perceptive powers in full force, The Handmaid’s Tale is at once a mordant satire and a dire warning.

In this action-packed historical fiction novel, Jesse Bowman joins the Union Army in hopes of finding adventure. However, this teenage soldier learns that victory comes at a great cost. He discovers the hardships of war, the horror of battle, and the loss of friendship on his journey through the Civil War. Join Tom McGowen as he tells the story of one boy's contribution to the Union's triumph over the Confederacy.

Includes music.

The Battle for Khe Sanh is a book by Moyers S. Shore. During the Vietnam War a battle was conducted in the Khe Sanh area of northwestern Vietnam, and this work presents equipment and tactics of US forces and how they fought VC forces.

Mr. Charles was born in Atlanta Georgia and was placed in an Orphans home at the age of 6 when his mother could no longer care for him and his two sisters. He was in the Orphans home for 3 years, and then went to live with his grandparents on a rundown dirt farm in rural Georgia. He lived there for 7 years and when his grandfather died he went to live with his mother in Atlanta until at the age of 16 he joined the Army. He won a singing contest and traveled with the Army show around Army bases in the South East. He was picked up by an agent and began his singing career as a vocalist with many big bands of the big band era, most notable was Harry James. He retired in 1997and began writing his memoirs. He moved to a small town in rural Northern California where he currently resides.

The Boundary. The greatest feat of magic in the history of Madryn. An impenetrable barrier raised to imprison the Darklord Lorthas and bring an end to the long and bloody MageWar.With the Boundary weakening, Madryn is collapsing into chaos. Betrayed by one of the six Great Houses, Prince Martyn of Alrendria finds himself besieged in Kaper, struggling to maintain control of the city and hold together a crumbling alliance. As his pleas for aid go unanswered, he wonders who he should fear more: those he knows to be his enemies, or those he trusts to be his friends.In the shadow of the Boundary, Jeran Odara fights to restore order to the mountain fortress of Dranakohr. Opposed by the Darklord, labeled a threat by the Mage Assembly, and faced with a burgeoning magical Gift few understand, Jeran must find the proper path and force the Races of Madryn down it. But how can he instill faith in his followers when he has none himself?