The impact of war on soldiers can be devastating. Students in Mrs. Sanburg’s eighth grade English/language arts class read Soldier's Heart, which profiled a young (underage) soldier from Minnesota during the Civil War.
The change in the main character, Charley Goddard, was clear to see. He started as an excited, young soldier ready for the adventures that battles would bring and ended up debating whether life was worth living after seeing the atrocities of war and incurring severe injuries himself. Camp life was also discussed, which included daily rations of beans and salt-pork; not very satisfying or tasty. Mrs. Sandburg brought in some beans for students to try.
“I had one taker, and by his second big spoonful, he was done with the beans,” Sandburg said.
An appreciation for those that fought was gained by the students; something we all should have.