“Learning about those times and deeds [World War II] must be more than accidental. Fortunately, many of our fellow Americans understand that. Gail Thomas [now Downs] of Brentwood, Missouri is one of them.” President Bill Clinton, “Remarks at a Memorial Day Ceremony” May 30, 1994 Arlington National Cemetery
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“Mrs. Thomas [now Downs] and the fifth-grade students at Mark Twain Elementary serve as models for others to follow in developing and encouraging innovative projects for our children’s education.” Missouri Senator “Kit” Bond, “Remarks for the Congressional Record” May 19, 1992
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“This moving story of the sacrifice of a member of the author’s extended family in World War II, and the effect of his death on his mother and his wife as told in The Black Suitcase Mystery touched my heart. My oldest cousin also flew on bombing missions in a B-24 out of Italy during that war. However, what fascinated me even more was the persistent and creative ways that the author, an elementary school librarian, and her teacher colleagues, found to involve fifth graders in discovering and celebrating more and more details and relationships in the story of this young American airman. Their approach should be a model for everyone who teaches history at any level. What a gift they gave their students in helping them understand an important part of our country’s history through the experiences of the people who lived it! The author is to be praised for preserving all the primary source material in the book: photographs, letters, news clippings, and more. The cover photo of the Black Suitcase with the Gold Star flag prominently displayed was especially poignant for me, as I remembered seeing those flags in windows of homes in my community as a child. That cover is especially relevant today, given the current political situation in this country. George Elliot Rich and his family knew what real sacrifice is.” Mary Nelson Keithahn, Pastor, educator, hymn writer, and author.
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“One of the best methods of teaching history is to tell a good story and that is what Gail Downs has done. This is a love story which also includes B24 bombers to relate how WWII affected the lives of soldiers and their families. The coincidences and connections made by the author and fifth grade students is remarkable in unraveling the mystery of how a solider lost his life and how a family lost touch with his true love. It is a fast and engaging read and keeps the reader turning pages to find out what will happen next. The story is not over and the material is perfect for a movie.” Carol Finch, Educational Outreach Librarian
