Major Edward Dice Visits Penn Hills High School for The Big Read!
On March 20, the Penn Hills Senior High School Library welcomed Major Edward Dice, a 1997 Penn Hills graduate, to tell the story of this time in the Iraq War. Major Dice, son of biology teacher Claire Dice, earned a Purple Heart for wounds received in battle in 2013. While telling his own story, he helped connect it to the novel The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien.
Major Dice taught the students that our country’s soldiers carry much more than just supplies; they also carry burden, fear, most importantly, hope. He presented pictures of his time in Afghanistan, where he helped build schools in rural areas. He noted that one of the schools was an all-girls school, built in a nation where girls were only recently permitted to be educated. Major Dice encouraged the students to be proud of their country, and not take their educations for granted.
The novel, The Things They Carried, is considered one of the finest books about the Vietnam War. It was selected by the Community College of Allegheny County to be the focus of The Big Read in Pittsburgh for 2014. The Big Read is a nationwide initiative to increase literacy and a love of reading in America’s youth. Librarian Mrs. Coleman, who organized the event, considered it a great success. “Penn Hills School District is proud to be a new Big Read partner for 2014,” Mrs. Coleman emphasized, “Students were truly at the center of the project, doing everything from creating programs and posters to introducing and thanking Major Dice.”
Many students at Penn Hills High School worked hard to make The Big Read a success. Student speakers included library assistants Angelica Walker, Douglas Remmick, Sabritta Ditumona, and Tyree Mitchell. “We’ve been preparing for this day for many weeks,” said Angelica, “and we’re all so glad that it’s finally here!”
Library assistants Lauren Williams and Cassidy Wigham worked as ushers, handing out student designed bookmarks and programs. NJROTC Cadets Jaylin Clark, Lucas Baird, Cory Umshied, Donaven Johnson, Jake Russel, and Alex Main preformed a sword arch ceremony as Major Dice entered the library. Video Production students Anthony Brunn and Nicole Besterman filmed the event with the help of their teacher, Mr. Marinzel. Needless to say, this event would not have been possible without the generous help of our students.
