http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_521_Iraqi_Soldier_Poet_Mum.mp3 Fran Richey's poetry helped repair a rift in her relationship with her son, Ben, after he joined the military and served in Iraq. Plone 2.0 http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_521_Iraqi_Soldier_Poet_Mum.mp3/logo.jpg http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_521_Iraqi_Soldier_Poet_Mum.mp3 <h4>Poet and soldier<br /></h4><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/43de8bd4d73b3583942ce38c6a77fcee" alt="Fran and Ben Richey" height="100" width="100" />Fran and Ben Richey</p><p>When Fran Richey's son, Ben, went to West Point, they started arguing about politics. After he joined Special Forces and went to Iraq, they pretty much stopped communicating, and Fran took refuge in writing poems.</p><p>Fran started sharing her poems with her son after he returned from Iraq. Much to their surprise, her poems helped re-open lines of communication. Now the poems have been published and they're both talking about the change in their relationship.</p><ul><li>Learn more about Fran's book of poetry, <a href="http://francesrichey.com/"><i>The Warrior</i></a></li><li>See <a title="Fran and Ben Richey at West Point in 1994" href="resolveuid/72a3e6c3004a46298d0e3b38168bc1aa">Fran and Ben at West Point in 1994</a></li></ul><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b">Contact Us</a><br /><h4>A brick from the past<br /></h4><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/38ff7eb1e012b1917595d6c6b98cae05" alt="Chris Thurin" height="100" width="100" />Chris Thurin</p><p>Chris Thurin says his years at West High School in Minneapolis were some of the best days of his life. When the school was torn down in the 1980's, he asked his sister to pick something up from the site. When she arrived there wasn't much left aside from a heap of bricks. So she sent him two - which Chris deposited in the trunk of his car. Years later, these nearly-forgotten bricks would be at the heart of a humbling chance encounter with another West High School graduate.</p><blockquote><p><i>Music heard in this story: Be True to Your School by The Beach Boys for the album Sounds of Summer - The Very Best of the Beach Boys</i><br /></p></blockquote><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Contact Us</a> Thu, 22 May 2008 05:00:00