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‘Big Read’ events honor vets, military families

Published 10:26 pm Thursday, May 13, 2010

By Herald Staff

Many readers in Snohomish and Island counties are reading the same book this month.

Everett Public Library and Sno-Isle Libraries are encouraging people to participate in “The Big Read” program and check out Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried,” which is about the Vietnam War.

As a tribute to the book’s themes on the military, the libraries plan to honor veterans and military families during May.

Special programs include:

  • “We Were Soldiers Once,” a presentation by Vietnam War veteran Jim Pace.

    Pace reflects on his experience as an American soldier in Vietnam and what happened after he returned home. The presentation is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Oak Harbor Library, 1000 SE Regatta Drive.

  • “Honoring Our Veterans” Memorial Day celebration.

    Join VFW Post 1040 for a celebration at Lynnwood’s Veterans Park and follow it up with a book group discussion of “The Things They Carried.” The VFW event is at 11 a.m. May 30, Veterans Park, 44th Avenue W. and Veterans Way, Lynnwood. The book discussion is set for 2 p.m. May 30, at the Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. W.

  • Watch “The Things They Carried” onstage.

    A performance will be given three different times with an actor reading from “The Things They Carried.” Through American Place Theatre’s Literature to Life program, the stage adaptation features the actor leading the audience through five of the short stories from the book. The adaptation will be performed at 2 p.m. Saturday, Everett High School, 2416 Colby Ave., Everett; 2 p.m. Sunday, Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center, 27108 102nd Ave NW, Stanwood; 7 p.m. Monday, Edmonds Library, 650 Main St., Edmonds.

  • See and speak to your deployed loved one via Skype.

    Sno-Isle Libraries is setting up a private room with a computer, webcam and Skype so military families can talk with each other. People can drop in or call ahead to for an appointment.

    The first opportunity is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. W. Call 425-778-2148. The next event is 1 to 9 p.m. May 24, Mountlake Terrace Library, 23300 58th Ave. W. Call 425-776-8722.

  • Plant flowers on Memorial Day.

    Plant a commemorative flower in celebration of Memorial Day. Contact the Everett Public Library for more information by calling 425-257-8022 during the last week in May.

    Details on dozens of other “Big Read” events, as well as book discussion questions and more are available at www.epls.org/bigread or www.sno-isle.org/bigread.

    “The Big Read” is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts. In Washington, the program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. In Snohomish and Island counties, “The Big Read” is supported by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation and The Herald.

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