Former resident pens book of letters, honors a soldier and the girl he left behind
Kara Martinelli, a former New Philadelphia resident, has written her first book. Martinelli, who works in the television and film industry as a producer of aviation documentaries for Hemlock Films in Cleveland, decided to author a very special book for her family. My Very Dearest Anna features the letters written by her grandparents, Richard and Anna Moore, while they were separated during World War II.
In 1943 Richard B. Moore, of New Philadelphia, joined the Army Air Corps and was off to fly with the 5th Air Force in the Pacific, but not before he said goodbye to Anna Mae Wyatt, also of New Philadelphia, the girl that would one day share his name.
The letters follow Richard’s path as he begins his training in Casper, Wyo., travels the nation, and then on to bomber missions in the Pacific Theater.
“I didn’t even know my grandpa was in the war until I was 18 years old. He told me all sorts of stories about the war when I asked him questions for a paper I had to do in school. He had kept scrapbooks and all the letters he and my grandma wrote to each other while they were separated by the war,” said Martinelli. “He said I could read the letters, but I felt like they were private so I didn’t.”
Martinelli was very close with her grandpa and her choice of careers may be a result of his influence. She spends much of her free time researching history and airplanes.
“I was very close with my grandpa and spent a lot of time with him. When I would come to visit I was always with him. He passed away in 2007,” said Martinelli.
Last Christmas, in 2010, Martinelli’s mother gave her his scrapbooks, albums and letters from the war. “It took me a while to read the letters but I finally did,” said Martinelli. “I come from a large family and we were all very close with my grandpa so I didn’t think I should be the only one that had his things. I wanted to share them. I had intentions of photocopying the letters but I never could find the time.”
Martinelli, however, did find the time to compile her grandpa’s letters. “Grandpa used to sit with me and share his stories about his time in the Air Corps. I didn’t want his memories to be forgotten. They were so important to him. I filled in the holes between their letters to complete their story. This is the story of how my family began,” said Martinelli.
“In reading their letters it is interesting that they talk about Buehler’s grocery store, the Quaker Theater, places that are still here today. They wrote about the Goshen Dairy and other familiar places. These are memories that all of us in New Philadelphia share,” said Martinelli. “Their story might be interesting to people that didn’t even know them.”
My Very Dearest Anna allows the reader to imagine life in a time of uncertainty. With the world at war, Richard B. Moore served his country but never forgot the most important reason to come home, his love, Anna Mae Wyatt.
Fueled by a desire to immortalize her grandpa’s memories and share them with them with her family, all of us are now able to step back in time and see life and love through the eyes of a soldier and the girl he loved most. Martinelli’s book, My Very Dearest Anna is available in paperback at her website which can be found by searching the title and an eBook version on Amazon.
In 1943 Richard B. Moore, of New Philadelphia, joined the Army Air Corps and was off to fly with the 5th Air Force in the Pacific, but not before he said goodbye to Anna Mae Wyatt, also of New Philadelphia, the girl that would one day share his name.
The letters follow Richard’s path as he begins his training in Casper, Wyo., travels the nation, and then on to bomber missions in the Pacific Theater.
“I didn’t even know my grandpa was in the war until I was 18 years old. He told me all sorts of stories about the war when I asked him questions for a paper I had to do in school. He had kept scrapbooks and all the letters he and my grandma wrote to each other while they were separated by the war,” said Martinelli. “He said I could read the letters, but I felt like they were private so I didn’t.”
Martinelli was very close with her grandpa and her choice of careers may be a result of his influence. She spends much of her free time researching history and airplanes.
“I was very close with my grandpa and spent a lot of time with him. When I would come to visit I was always with him. He passed away in 2007,” said Martinelli.
Last Christmas, in 2010, Martinelli’s mother gave her his scrapbooks, albums and letters from the war. “It took me a while to read the letters but I finally did,” said Martinelli. “I come from a large family and we were all very close with my grandpa so I didn’t think I should be the only one that had his things. I wanted to share them. I had intentions of photocopying the letters but I never could find the time.”
Martinelli, however, did find the time to compile her grandpa’s letters. “Grandpa used to sit with me and share his stories about his time in the Air Corps. I didn’t want his memories to be forgotten. They were so important to him. I filled in the holes between their letters to complete their story. This is the story of how my family began,” said Martinelli.
“In reading their letters it is interesting that they talk about Buehler’s grocery store, the Quaker Theater, places that are still here today. They wrote about the Goshen Dairy and other familiar places. These are memories that all of us in New Philadelphia share,” said Martinelli. “Their story might be interesting to people that didn’t even know them.”
My Very Dearest Anna allows the reader to imagine life in a time of uncertainty. With the world at war, Richard B. Moore served his country but never forgot the most important reason to come home, his love, Anna Mae Wyatt.
Fueled by a desire to immortalize her grandpa’s memories and share them with them with her family, all of us are now able to step back in time and see life and love through the eyes of a soldier and the girl he loved most. Martinelli’s book, My Very Dearest Anna is available in paperback at her website which can be found by searching the title and an eBook version on Amazon.
Published: January 4, 2012
