Keep calm, carry on

Dear Editor,

The reality of our freedom, prosperity and security being attacked is bothering a lot of Americans these days.

Great Britain was in a terrible situation after it declared war against Germany on Sept. 3, 1939. (Hitler's army had marched into Poland Sept. 1, 1939.) Britain's Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, was forced to resign because of his policy of appeasing the Nazi regime. King George VI asked Winston Churchill to form a new government in 1940.

Suddenly, at 4 p.m. Sept. 7, 1940, German bombers attacked London. British citizens endured 57 consecutive days of massive attacks, referred to as the "Blitz." Sixty thousand London civilians were killed and 87,000 others were injured. All parts of England were affected. Children were evacuated. Many people huddled for long periods of time in air raid shelters.

Many stories are told about their great courage. I went to elementary school with a boy who escaped from the bombings and lived with his aunt in Denver. He was a brave 9-year-old.

A poster was created during this time. It had a red background and a crown on the top. The slogan on it said "Keep calm and carry on."

Recently, a copy of it was found in a box of books in Northumberland.

It would be great if all of us could "Keep calm and carry on" during these times of financial crisis, wars in far-away locations and political upheaval.

Like Winston Churchill (1874-1975) we really have nothing to offer but "blood, toil, tears and sweat." (See June 18, 2011 Deseret News and World Book Encyclopedia)

Helen Ruth Arnold,

Trenton, Nebraska