Thank you for taking the time to meet us in the videoconference.After our first meeting with you, I was enthused to start writing historical fiction stories because of the inspiration you injected into me.When I shared my entries with you,your comments and feedback were helpful and they improved my writing. Here is another sample of my diary.

Another day of war…
In the blink of an eye, everything changed. My last friend died today. All the lives this war has snatched from me…
As I ran across the battlefield, with gunshots missing me by a needles length, I heard Davy Crockett yelling instructions, when suddenly; he came to an abrupt stop. Instinctively, I swiveled around, my heart throbbing with fear of what I thought had just happened. Davy Crockett yelled in pain as a shot pierced his body, right under his heart. Blood leaked out off the large gash and sweat beaded across my forehead. I cantered over to where he lay and picked him up with exertion. I brought him upstairs and looked at him miserably. There was nothing I, nor anyone else could do, besides let his last minutes go by in peace. I clasped his hand and gently caressed his face. Davy Crockett made a small smile at me as I told him the usual, “You’ll be alright,” but that was definitely not true.
The minutes past by and Mr. Crockett assured to me that I’d lead the troops for the remainder of the war. Out of nowhere, Davy Crockett suddenly yelped in horror as the pain burned his soul. His breathing was limited and his last words were hard to hear. All I could make out was: “John, Remember the Alamo!”

Thank you very much for taking the time out to meet with me and my peers, and discussing out historical fiction entries with us. I was one of the student you did not get to meet with at the second conference. I wrote about the Invasion of Normandy. My character is Lawrence Mattews and he is 18 years old. This entry is from the near beginning of my diary.

June 9, 1944

Today was very tiring. It’s hard to see all of the dead, mangled bodies just lying, still on the sandy beaches. Today’s high tide was strong. All of the bodies just floated out to sea. It is scary seeing all of brave soldiers just die instantly like that. I can’t imagine all of the sorrowful days these troops families would have. We got information out of one of the prisoners. One prisoner was a German. He looked about 25, but had cuts everywhere and it looked like he had a broken leg. He spit on the Captain’s shoes. Boy, did captain get mad. He took his M4 smack him across the head with it and then shot him right in the chest. As I saw the trigger getting pulled, my heart skipped a beat. The other prisoner was Italian. He gave us information and told us to look out for snipers uphill. Right now we are camping out with nothing to eat or drink.

Thank you once again for taking time out of your busy schedule to let us share our diary entries. I was very excited to share my entrie, but unfortunately we didn’t have that much time. But, through the power of the internet, I can post one of my diary entries on this blog! I am writing about The Beatles in 1967 while they were recording the Sgt. Pepper. These diaries are through the eyes of the great John Lennon. This is the first entry……

May 5, 1967

The Sgt. Pepper album has been worked on for nearly ½ a year now, but we are only 45% done. The actual faces appearing on the cover is a mystery, too. Jesus, Hitler, and Ghandi were turned down by EMI, saying they “Would anger great parts of the population in India and the world”. I was shaking in absolute fury at their thoughtless comment. To get my mind off THAT……… this is the album so far:

A-Side
1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. With A Little Help From My Friends
3. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
4. Getting Better
5. Fixing A Hole

We currently have 1 candidate running for the second-to-last song on the A-Side, “She’s Leaving Home” about a girl that… well, leaves home! George has been working on his own collaboration for the album, “Within You Without You” an Indian based piece with many Indian instruments such as the sitar. Man, it sounds…weird. But, I think we can fit it somewhere in the album. We should really think about the “future” of the A-Side.

Thanks again!

Sincerly,

Steven

Thank you for making time to meet with us over a videoconference and listen to our diary entries. You inspired me from what you said about show and not tell. This is one of my entries.
The Next Day

Last night we encountered huge surprise attack. I guess it was a welcoming present. Right now I can still hear the moaning and groaning of the men who were wounded.
The battle was very harsh, grueling and probably the largest we will face because there were so many troops for each side.
It all started when we began to set up a place to sleep temporarily. The Japanese frequently attack at night. All of the sudden every thing went quite and then the enemy fire was tremendous on us. We were prepared slightly. The people who panicked were killed instantly. We all dug in and tried to return fire. The sand was slowing me down a bit as I ran. Everywhere there was moaning and groaning and people being shot. We held them of for a long time and eventually won the battle, but casualties were very high for one battle.
We are trying to recover so I’m going to go try and help out in any way I can.

February 19,1943

Finally we are free! I am kissing the land of sweet, sweet Sweden. The land of freedom! Petey is here. He ended up escaping to here. I am so glad that we can be a family. All the people I have met, lost and been reunited with make this day so bittersweet. I am very disheartened that Papa and Mama aren’t here to be with us. But at least they are in a better place now and so am I.

Love, Annie

Once again, thank you for taking your time to read this!

From Jen

Day of Protest 1967

Derek and I wake up early today to prepare for the protest. We paint the signs and practice the chants. While driving there I hear a Bob Dylan song. He is my favorite and has got to be the greatest singer of all time. We start singing along to “The Times They Are A-Changing”: “Come senators, congressmen Please heed the call Don’t stand in the doorway Don’t block up the hall For he that gets hurt Will be he who has stalled There’s a battle outside And it is ragin. It’ll soon shake your windows And rattle your walls For the times they are a-changin”. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. We drove all the way from Haight–Ashbury California to get here. The Haight is really close to San Francisco. We park our car that is a 1960 Chevy. It is like Derek’s baby. My hands are so sweaty right now but the song has just inspired me. We follow the rest of the crowd. In two hours we start protesting. People in Flower Power Clothes Chanted “Bring our soldiers home” and “This war has no meaning” People held signs that read.

Peace stop the violence

an this war is killing to many people

I hear sirens. I’m thinking this is not good. We keep marching no matter what. The chants are getting louder. People are shouting, blaring the words. People start burning their draft cards. We are still marching. When we reach the Pentagon. I hear a voice shout “surround the building and chant until it levitates” This attracted a lot of people. Businessmen came

P.S
The pictures of the signs are in the diary

Thanks Kyle