“400 Years Across the Ocean: The Birth of America” by Walter Sawyer was displayed at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California

Every year, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books becomes livelier and brighter due to the growing number of attendees. From book lovers, casual readers, and literary collectors to authors and publishers, people gathered to celebrate literacy.

The largest book festival in the US opened its doors last April for a glamorous two-day weekend celebration with the bookworms. Held at the University of Southern California, many book enthusiasts, book lovers, and book collectors, as well as writers, established authors, and many more, attended the free event.

A lot of bookfair-goers went by the Citi of Books booth to check for their next read and potential favorite book. One of the books that were chosen is “400 Years Across the Ocean: The Birth of America” by Walter Sawyer. It was displayed on April 20th and 21st at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California.

Walter Sawyer quit high school at the age of sixteen and went to work on the advice of his stepfather. He either works or goes on the street. He found a job at a local hat company, which lasted only a few days when the Pope said, “Women do not have to wear hats to church.”

He entered the US Navy at the age of seventeen. He went to Great Lake, Illinois, before traveling to the Panama Canal and eventually the West Coast to California.

After leaving the Navy with an honorable discharge, he got married and raised three children. Twenty years later, he entered the Massachusetts National Guard and was drafted into the US Army for Saudi Arabia.

While serving in Germany, three years earlier, he got hurt; the injuries recurred while on active duty in Saudi Arabia. He was honorably discharged. He was sent home on a MAC flight to the States. He continued to help for the next year with AmeriCorps, working on a disaster program in seven Mobile Park communities, totaling 12,000 hours of community service.

Walter now enjoys the senior way of life with his seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

“400 Years Across the Ocean: The Birth of America” dives into American history through the fascinating story of Squanto. Kidnapped and brought to Europe, Squanto learned English and a different way of life. Remarkably, he returned to America just as the Pilgrims arrived. Devastated by a disease that wiped out his village, he found himself befriending the newcomers. Squanto’s unique ability to translate and his knowledge of survival skills proved invaluable to the Pilgrims. His influence is credited with creating a peaceful relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe that lasted for half a century. A believer in understanding and unity, Squanto emphasized the importance of recognizing our shared humanity despite differences.

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