An American Flag for Their Father
Written By
Annmarie Hickey Georgopolis

www.ahg7.com

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LAWRENCE EAGLE TRIBUNE - NH EDITION
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2006

Patriotic Children's Book Inspired by Life

By Penny Williams
Staff Writer

HAMPSTEAD, NH — A local woman has written a children's book based on her family and the war in Iraq.

While the story by Annmarie Hickey Georgopolis is based on facts and real people, it is fiction, but it catches the flavor of today and is unabashedly patriotic.

"An American Flag for Their Father" is the story of a brother and sister who are inspired by tales from their grandfather to earn money to buy a flag to welcome home their father from military service in Iraq.

The children in the book, Meghan and Jonathan, are loosely modeled on the author's nephew and niece. Their father, Georgopolis' older brother, is Army Lt. Col. Martin Hickey. He was serving in Iraq with the 804th Medical Brigade when she started writing the story, and is the returning hero in the tale.

Through her memories of her father, a World War II veteran, and his twice daily flag ceremony, Georgopolis sets a tone of respect and love for country. "Grampy" tells the children what the flag means to him and explains why he stands "for a moment straight, proud and tall as I salute the flag. It is my way of honoring all those good men I served with in the Second World War, and all the other people who fought for our country."

The story is set on Plum Island in Massachusetts, where Georgopolis grew up and where the real Meghan and Jonathan have spent much time.

Georgopolis said the book has been received favorably by both children and parents. She has developed a Web site at www.ahg7.com and is willing to use the book for fundraising, such as for school and veterans' groups.

The book sells for $12.95 and is written for children ages 8 to 11. Georgopolis may be contacted at 603-382-3563 for information.