Read Chapter 2: “On the Road,” here!
It was 10:30 a.m. The first stop the Lesters made in Kanchanaburi was at the War Cemetery.
“Children, we are going to visit a place where many people are buried. It’s a cemetery,” explained Dad.
“Why is this cemetery so important?” asked Alice.
“The remains of many Allied prisoners of war are buried here. They call these men POW’s,” said Dad.
“When did they die?” asked Brandon.
“They died in captivity during World War II,” replied Dad.
As they were talking, the two parents with their two children entered the main gate of the War Cemetery. It was a cool spot on such a hot day. The place was surrounded by high green bushes. The lawn was cut short and colourful flowers grew around the gravestones. In the middle of the cemetery there was a big white cross. A lot of flowers were placed at its base. It was a way of paying respect to the memory of the brave soldiers who died fighting for a better world.
“When did this war take place?” asked Brandon.
“World War II started in 1941 in Europe. From there it spread all over the world. It ended in 1945, when the United States of America dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in Japan,” Mom told the children.
The children were very quiet. They walked among the gravestones and read the words engraved.
“Why do people start wars?” asked Alice.
Dad and Mom couldn’t answer this question. “It is very difficult to explain,” said Dad after a long brake. “When you grow up you will understand.”
“What is important for you now to know is that wars bring only death and suffering. Men should never fight and kill each other. We should all be kind and live in peace with our foreign neighbors,” concluded Mom.
“Now children, we will go and see the Bridge on the River Kwai,” said Dad.
“How are we going to go there?” asked Brandon. “By car?”
“No. We will go by raft!” said Mom enthusiastically.
Illustration by Eric Barrientos
