Myers books gives glimpse of life's journey
By BURLON PARSONS bparsons@journal-spectator.com

Col. Melvin Myers, USA Ret., will sign his book Pomp & Sacrifice next Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Wharton County Historical Museum.

In his book Pomp & Sacrifice by Lt. Col. Melvin L. Myers, USA Ret., the author not only relates his own family history, but opens a timecapsule spanning seven decades.

His is the story of being reared in a family whose descendants were slaves and parents who modeled their lifestyle on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Just published in July, Pomp & Sacrifice is now going to be available at two scheduled booksignings.

Today Col. Myers is signing books in Houston during his church's fall festival.

Next Saturday he will be signing copies of the book at the Wharton County Historical Museum from 2 to 5 p.m. He will be selling copies at the signing for $10 each.

He is the great-grandson of D.V. "Dock" Myers who was a resident of Wharton County when the 1850 census was taken. His grandfather Forrest Myers inherited and bought land in the Hungerford area to farm.

Col. Myers was reared on his parents' farm and graduated from Wharton Training High School in 1955. In 1959 he graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Prairie View A&M and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

His memoirs are both a touching and inspiring story as his life experiences and achievements reflect growing up during unstable times. He describes lessons learned from his parents, teachers and mentors and the impact on his life.

It is a book which is written with a flowing and interesting style which makes it enjoyable to read. Pomp & Sacrifice is hard to put down once started.

Col. Myers said the family had done some audio recordings of the family's history which were lost. Once he retired from his second career of teaching he wanted to do a written account of his and the family's legacy.

"My parents talked a lot about their legacy," Col. Myers said. "I had the time and freedom to do a written record after I retired."

He started the book in May of 2006 and had it finished by the following December.

His method of writing was to "sit back and think." "It was like a journey back in time," he said. "It was amazing the emotions that journey produced."

His children, Kerry and Melvin Jr., think the book is "beautiful." They said they learned more about their dad than they knew before. He said that's the same response he gets from some of his relatives.

Highlighted are achievements during his 20-year career in the U.S. Army including duty in the Vietnam War.

After retiring from the U.S. Army, he built an impressive and successful record during a 26-year career as a teacher, mentor and role model for peers and others.

It was when he was teaching that he saw "so many children I've cried over." But on the otherhand he was elated when he saw them "make it."

"We had taken our ROTC students on a field trip to the zoo one day," he said. "One of the female students brought me a flower she had picked. Now I was hesitant about taking anything from a female student. But she told me that she did not know who her father was, but she would like to think that he was someone like me. It nearly broke my heart."

There is also the heartwrenching account of his role and success as a single parent for his teenage daughter and young son during his Army and teaching careers.

Pomp & Sacrifice is a book to have on the bookshelf for more than one reading. It is a reminder of where we've been and the bumpy journey we all have to make in our lives.