Sparks students ponder unopened letter
Monday, May 31, 1999 | 3:43 a.m.
Their dilemma pitting curious human nature against the moral question of privacy began when history teacher Bernard Lund purchased the letter at an antique paper show.
Lund said at the time he was only interested in the ink stamps on the envelope and didn't realize there was an unopened letter inside.
"It's a piece of history," Lund said. "It's a piece of love. We don't know exactly what it is."
All students know is what they can see on the aging envelope, which is stamped with an American flag and the slogan, "Idle gossip sinks ships."
It was sent during World War II by Bill Barnes, who served in the 71st Infantry out of Fort Lewis, Wash., to Lenore Pelka in Staten Island, N.Y.
An ink stamp on the bottom left corner indicates the letter was received in Los Angeles.
Lund says at first his students wanted to open the letter.
But that impulse quickly waned when discussion turned to how opening the letter would violate the privacy of the sender and receiver.
"I tried to present this as a moral question to the kids," Lund said. "The curiosity about it is tremendous."
Was it a love letter? A marriage proposal? Only Barnes would know.
"I think we should leave it closed," said David White, an eighth grader. "If it's that important that they didn't open it for 57 years, we probably don't have the right to snoop."
The students are trying to find Barnes, Pelka or their relatives. If that fails, they are considering donating the unopened letter to the Veterans Administration hospital as a museum piece.
For now, Lund says the letter's secrets are safe.
"I keep it in a safety deposit box just so I don't relent during a weak moment," he said.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Conventions
- ‘Stripper-mobile’ with live dancers raises safety, decency concerns
- Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto arrive at MGM Grand
- Report: State’s economy worse off than any other
- Encore, M Resort added to Forbes Travel list
- Rebels survive scare from Division-II Washburn
- Study cites challenges of Nevada’s financial problems
- Dispute over casino baccarat systems prompts lawsuit
- Tourism companies embrace social media strategies
- Fans float replacement for UNLV football coach
Blogs
Business Notebook
Meeting cancellations prompting suits; economic diversification vs. growth
Now and Then
Antoine Walker doesn't know when to hold or fold 'em
TUF Heavyweights
Episode 9: Funky chickens
Shark Bytes
Players on championship team always worked hard (8 Comments)
Sports: Upon Further Review
Fight snapshot: Predictions for Pacquiao-Cotto (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
A lesson in information dissemination, with a little Twitter and a lot of Agassi
Now and Then
Ichabods were tougher than they sound (4 Comments)
Calendar »
- 12 Thu
- 13 Fri
- 14 Sat
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
-
Las Vegas Wranglers vs. Utah Grizzlies
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Lily Tomlin at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand
-
Leonard Cohen at The Colosseum
The Colosseum | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Football specials at Diablo's
Diablos Cantina
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati










