A family walks down the pathway toward the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier at Patriots Point, surrounded by American flags and calm waters.
A family walks down the pathway toward the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier at Patriots Point, surrounded by American flags and calm waters.
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Hundreds attend sold-out musical performance honoring veterans

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Hundreds of guests came aboard the USS Yorktown on the evening of November 9 to enjoy "BEHIND THE LINES: War Letters by American Heroes" -- a night of live music intertwined with the readings of letters written by Americans serving their country during times of war and their family members and friends supporting them at home. The letters spanned hundreds of years from the American Revolution to current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and were introduced by live musical performances of songs from the era in which they were written.

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum paired with acclaimed Broadway stage directors Brad and Jennifer Moranz, and Andrew Carroll, New York Times bestselling author and director of the Center for American War Letters (www.WarLetters.us) at Chapman University, to bring life to the heartfelt, often emotional, sometimes comical letters written during times of conflict at home and abroad.  “BEHIND THE LINES: War Letters by American Heroes” is based on Carroll’s bestselling books, including Letters of A Nation, Behind the Lines, and War Letters.

One of the more emotional letters shared during the evening was one written by Adrian Edwards, a native of Illinois who left his job as an attorney to volunteer during World War I.  He wrote a letter to his mother with instructions that she be given it only in the event of his death. Sadly, she received it.

The letter, written by the 34-year old soldier in May 1918 from a battlefield in France, concludes with the following passage: "Life is not the highest boon of existence. There are ideals that are superhuman. Interests greater than ourselves for which it is worthwhile fighting, suffering and dying. Goodbye, Mother. I will see you in the next world. You may know I died fighting for you, my country, and all that life holds dear. Your son, Adrian."

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Col. Zoltan Krompecher is introduced to the crowd as the author a letter written to his young children that he wanted them to have in case he did not return from Iraq[/caption]

After this letter was read, Andrew Carroll, who served as the narrator for the evening, set up the next letter written by a young father, Captain Zoltan Krompecher one month before he left for a tour of duty in Iraq. He wrote to his young daughters, "I've been watching the news and I'm worried there could be an off chance that I might not be able to watch you board the school bus for the first time, put a band aid on a scraped knee, or walk you down the aisle at your wedding. So if you are reading this years from now, I want you to know how very much your daddy loved you, and that I am watching over you and protecting you."

At the conclusion of this heartfelt letter, Carroll revealed that the man reading that letter on the stage was in fact the author, now Colonel Zoltan Krompecher.  The audience gave him a warm ovation.

The letters read during "BEHIND THE LINES: War Letters by American Heroes" shed light on Andrew Carroll's ongoing campaign to collect a million war letters ("Million Letters Campaign") written to and/or from our nation's veterans.  Those with letters to donate should visit his website at www.warletters.us.

“BEHIND THE LINES” was made possible by the SunTrust Foundation, Navy Federal Credit Union, the Center for American War Letters at Chapman University, and the USS Yorktown Foundation.  Enjoy the gallery of photos below of the night's performance:

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