Threads of Honor

by Gordon Ryan

Tells a true story of courage and sacrifice, of Boy Scouts learning about perseverance, of the great men and women of the American space program, and the unquenchable spirit of a most remarkable American flag.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

80 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Passed away November 14th, 2012. He was 69.

Gordon Ryan was a writer with a varied history. He lived and worked in six foreign nations and a dozen or more states, including Alaska. He served in the 1st Recon Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in the Air Force in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He also served as a member of the American Embassy staff in Dublin, Ireland, during the violent seventies. His first published novel, Dangerous Legacy, was released in 1994 and he published ten more over the intervening years with the three Pug Connor novels, the last one released in early 2011.

Reviews

[Carl Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of one of the few items recovered intact from the Space Shuttle Challenger accident. The flag is owned by Boy Scout Troop 514 in Colorado, and the Scoutmaster used the approval process for the flag to be part of the shuttle's flight kit as a lesson in perseverance, and the flag itself to demonstrate patriotism. The framework narration--passages from the point of view of the flag itself--is heavy-handed, but brief, and the story itself is compelling.

Read on the 38th anniversary of the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger and its seven crew, including Girl Scouts Judith Resnick and Christa McAuliffe, Star Scout Ronald McNair, and Eagle Scout Ellison Onizuka.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of a flag and a boy Scout troup.

[Ann Heiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice little book. I don't remember hearing before about the true story that it tells, but it's pretty amazing. It tells about a very patriotic Boy Scout troop, and about our country's space program, how amazing the advances in technology are. I was a bit sad reading the book thinking about how two good organizations have come under attack - the Boy Scouts for not caving in to something they believe is immoral, and the Space Program for lack of funding. 10 short years ago when this book was written both of these programs were respected and thriving, as far as I know.

[Byron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not going to lie - I struggled with the writing style, and I thought part of the pretense was a little hokey. But it's such a quick read that it was over with quickly, and I will admit that it did get me choked up in the end. I wasn't expecting where we were going (maybe I just enjoy reading without looking ahead too much, because I'm easily surprised) but it was sobering to relive a moment in history that I will certainly never forget.

[Tristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliant. Ryan chose to make the flag a point of view character, which was a risky move, but it paid off in high emotion and a depth of patriotic understanding we never would have gotten any other way. I loved this book.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novella about a Scoutmaster, his troop, their American flag and the quest to get it to fly on a space shuttle. Told from the perspective of the flag and the Scoutmaster. It was quite good considering the condensed nature.

[Katherine Woodin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very touching story of the history of the flag and how a scout troop worked at getting the flag.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, incredible book about the journey of one American flag.

[Robin]

Patriotic. Must read!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short book that can probably be read in less than an hour. Well worth your time and should make any American feel shivers of patriotism.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read!

With the price of silver, silver dollars may not be affordable as an Eagle Scout gift. This book would be a great Eagle Scout gift.

[Andrea M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story about a boy scout troop and a special flag. It shows how to never give up and to one way to make the best of a loss.