An American Flag for Their Father
Written By
Annmarie Hickey Georgopolis

www.ahg7.com

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LAWRENCE EAGLE TRIBUNE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2005

Local author inspired
by brother's service in Iraq

By Andy Smith
Staff writer

NORTH ANDOVER — Hoping only to put a smile on her brother's face, Annmarie Georgopolis wrote a story.

It was not the first time that she relied on her prose to brighten her brother's monotonous existence in Iraq. Called to war at the age of 45, Lt. Col. Marty Hickey of Salisbury looked forward to checking his e-mail and finding her humorous recollections of their youth.

But this story, a mixture of fiction and fact, is now reaching a much wider audience. And Georgopolis hopes it will inspire young people to treat every day as if it is Veterans Day.

"An American Flag For Their Father" incorporates Hickey and Georgopolis' childhood experiences with those of Hickey's two children. Published for elementary school students, it describes two kids' efforts to raise money to buy a huge flag for their father's homecoming from Iraq. It takes place on Plum Island, where Hickey and Georgopolis spent their youth.

North Andover Middle School social studies teacher Patrick McGravey said there is a growing young audience for this type of book. He said the war on terrorism has ignited a newfound appreciation of military service, which has become a part of the curriculum. All week, his classes did different exercises leading up to Veterans Day.

"We probably should have been teaching about this nine years ago, but it took something like (the war on terror)," he said. "It hits a lot closer to home with kids now."

When Hickey read the story in Iraq, he loved it so much that Georgopolis passed it along to friends and family. Their favorable reviews prompted her to send copies to publishers and literary agents.

Though she'd written the tale with modest intentions, she convinced Publishing Works, based in Exeter, N.H., that it would work well as a children's book.

For the last couple of weeks, Georgopolis has toured the state promoting it and discussing the importance of honoring veterans. She said the book is a gift not only to Hickey, but also to her father, a World War II veteran who appears as a character in the story.

"This is about honoring the people who have served, whether it's in World War II or Korea or Vietnam or Iraq," she said. "It's about honoring them and respecting the flag and knowing what the flag and those veterans stand for."

This week, Georgopolis and Hickey visited middle school students in North Andover, where they lived before moving to Plum Island. Hickey returned from Iraq in March 2004.

Georgopolis said the book tour has introduced her to people of all ages who have a refreshing respect for military service.

"It's a breath of fresh air to hear the questions kids have and then to meet the older veterans," she said. "It's been wonderful to get people's reactions to the book. I think people appreciate that it's not a political thing or a negative thing. It's just about people recognizing what these men and women have done."

Georgopolis said it is important for people to take a moment during Veterans Day to remember those who have served. She said it does not take much effort to reach out to servicemen and servicewomen.

"It's so important to do," she said. "Marty was in the middle of sandstorms with terrible living conditions and the heat and the constant threat of being killed. It's very important that they know we're here, we love you, and we're proud of you. And we should be telling all veterans we're proud of them. That message means a lot."