Eli Hernandez - Dearest Children: A Message Inspired by Father Edward J. Flanagan

DEAREST CHILDREN A Message Inspired by Father Edward J. Flanagan WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY ELI HERNANDEZ Dedicated to the children, families, employees and supporters of Boys Town Thank you: Carey, for your encouragement and creativity, and my children for the endless joy you bring to life Father Steven Boes, Scott Hartman, Jeff Tierney and other Boys Town leaders for supporting this project Tom Lynch and the Boys Town Hall of History staff for providing historical references Terry Hyland for editing and Laura Buddenberg for creating the discussion questions and family activities Dearest Children A Message Inspired by Father Edward J. Flanagan Text and Illustrations Copyright 2017 by Father Flanagans Boys Home ISBN: 978-1-944882-23-5 ePUB ISBN: 978-1-545747-77-3 Published by the Boys Town Press 14100 Crawford St. Boys Town, NE 68010 All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Unless otherwise noted, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations or critical reviews. Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Hernandez, Eli, author.

Title: Dearest children: a message inspired by Father Edward J. Flanagan / Eli Hernandez. Description: Boys Town, NE: Boys Town Press, [2017] | Audience: Children, PreK-5. | Summary: In this inspiring message for young people, the defining principles of Father Edward J. Flanagan encourage children to reflect on the blessings in their lives, find their purpose and lead lives of compassion. A discussion and activities section provides opportunities for families to further connect through Father Flanagans inspiration and put his principles into practice.

Identifiers: ISBN: 978-1-944882-23-5 Subjects: LCSH: Christian life--Juvenile literature. | Inspiration--Religious aspects--Christianity-- Juvenile literature. | Compassion in children--Religious aspects--Christianity--Juvenile literature. | Critical thinking in children--Religious aspects--Christianity--Juvenile literature. | Interpersonal relations in children--Religious aspects--Christianity--Juvenile literature. | CYAC: Christian life. | Inspiration-- Religious aspects-- Christianity. | Compassion--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Critical thinking--Religious aspects-- Christianity. | Interpersonal relations--Religious aspects-- Christianity. | Flanagan, Edward Joseph, 1886-1948--Influence. | BISAC: JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Topics / Values & Virtues. | JUVENILE NONFICTION / Religious / Christian / Inspirational. | JUVENILE NONFICTION / Religious / Christian / Values & Virtues. | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Values & Virtues. | JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Social Issues. | JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Social Issues.

Classification: LCC: BV4531.3 .H47 2017 | DDC: 248.8/2--dc23 Printed in the United States 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Boys Town Press is the publishing division of Boys Town, a national organization serving children and families. About Father Flanagan BORN
July 13, 1886 BIRTHPLACE
Ballymoe, County Galway, Ireland DIED
May 14, 1948 LAID TO REST
Boys Town, Nebraska, USA In 1917, Father Edward J. Flanagan founded his Home for Boys in Omaha, Nebraska. It became far more than a simple home for orphans because of the unique character and bold, forward-looking principles of its founder. At Father Flanagans Home, boys of all races and religions were accepted, lived together and were treated equally. He welcomed not only homeless boys, but also those with delinquent pasts.

To these boys, he offered rehabilitation, not punishment. The boys gave the Home the name Boys Town" Here, they did chores, attended school, participated in sports and music activities, and were taught vocational trades so they had the means to make a living upon graduation. As the reputation of the Home grew, Father Flanagan became a fierce advocate for children on the national and then international stage. His work was celebrated on film in an Oscar-winning performance by Spencer Tracy. At the time of his death in 1948, Father Flanagan was in Germany on a fact-finding mission for the U.S. War Department, assessing the plight of orphaned children from the Second World War.

He was known and revered world-wide. A century after founding his Home, Father Flanagans vision is fulfilled, as Boys Town leads the way in effective, compassionate, researched-based systems of youth care and health care that heal children and families in mind, body and spirit. In March 2012, the Archdiocese of Omaha began the process of determining whether Father Flanagan should be declared a Saint. Archbishop George Lucas opened the cause for canonization, noting that Father Flanagan had been declared a Servant of God. In June 2015, he advanced the cause for canonization of Father Flanagan to the Vatican in Rome. The pages of this book are only a modest testament to Father Flanagans monumental work and legacy.

His words of wisdom, which appear under each illustration, are as relevant today as when he first spoke them. Have you heard of the sickly boy from Ballymoe who became the man who realized a dream? A dream to bring healing and hope to children in need. When you help a child today, you write the history of tomorrow. Have you been told that you are good? The good within you will shine like the glorious sun when you surround yourself with people who love and encourage you. I say there is no such thing as a bad boy; the same applies to our girls. A boy or girl, given the proper guidance and direction, kept busy and constructively occupied, will prove my statement. Have you heard we are all one people? A people who depend on equal treatment and respect for one another to find peace on earth and in our own hearts.