Illustration by Lori McElrath-Eslick
The Memorial Day Mission
Reader’s Theater Script
Roles: 13 characters + Chorus
Length: 10 minutes
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Narrator One Narrator Two Boomer Poppy
Mom Dad Nurse Chorus
Ricardo Angela Martin Jason
Paramedic Mrs. Kane
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Narrator One: The whole neighborhood was preparing for Memorial Day. The Harpers unfurled a huge flag. Miss Rosy planted red, white and blue flowers in her garden while Angela and Anthony Flynn practiced for the parade.
Chorus: (Hum first six bars of "Star Spangled Banner" followed by cymbal crash.)
Narrator One: Every Memorial Day, Boomer and his great-grandfather placed little flags by the headstones of a dozen pilots.
Boomer: Is that the last one, Poppy?
Poppy: Yes, that’s the last one.
Narrator One: Poppy saluted, then Boomer and Poppy walked out the gates of the cemetery toward home.
Boomer: I’m so glad you’re coming to my school tomorrow to tell about your years as a Tuskegee pilot! All the kids will want to hear how you escaped from enemy airplanes a long time ago.
Narrator One: Boomer never wanted to speak up in class, but there wasn’t a shy bone in Poppy’s body.
Narrator Two: They climbed the steps to Boomer’s house.
Narrator One: Suddenly, Poppy’s foot slipped. He went down, right off the porch!
Boomer: Poppy!
Narrator Two: Mom and Dad burst through the front door.
Dad: Don’t move!
Mom: I’ve called the paramedics.
Chorus: (Ambulance siren)
Paramedic: We’ll take good care of him!
Narrator Two: Before Boomer could blink, Poppy was in the ambulance with Mom holding his hand.
Mom: I’ll call you from the hospital.
Narrator One: While they waited, Boomer and Dad watched the parade and tried not to worry.
Chorus: (Sing first eight bars of "Stars and Stripes Forever" followed by cymbal crash.)
Narrator One: An hour later, the phone rang.
Chorus: (Ringing phone)
Dad: He has a sprained ankle? Okay. We’ll be there soon. Bye!
Boomer: Is Poppy alright?
Dad: Poppy is fine, but he needs to stay in the hospital overnight. He wants that old suitcase from under his bed.
Narrator Two: Boomer raced to get Poppy’s suitcase. He was quiet during the ride to the hospital.
Narrator One: Poppy sat in the hospital bed stirring something green.
Nurse: Mr. Harris, this food was prepared especially for you.
Mom: Now, Grandpop! You’ve got to eat.
Poppy: But I need some real food, like baked beans and pie, not these green jiggly-wigglies.
Narrator Two: Boomer threw his arm around his great-grandfather’s neck.
Dad: We’ll be back in a few minutes.
Poppy: Don’t worry, Boomer. I’ll be home soon. But I’m sorry I can’t visit your school tomorrow to tell about the Tuskegee airmen. You’ll have to speak for both of us.
Boomer: Poppy you know I don’t like talking in front of my class. Last week during "show and tell," my voice cracked and I dropped my model car. I’m too scared.
Poppy: Scared? The first time I climbed in my P-51, my hands shook. But nobody was better trained to intercept enemy planes and protect our pilots than the Tuskegee Airmen. So I took a deep breath and buckled up.
Boomer: But, I just can't.
Poppy: Hold on now. Let’s see what’s in my suitcase.
Narrator One: Poppy lifted out a soft aviator helmet and scratched-up leather jacket.
Poppy: A piece of hot metal tore through the floor of the cockpit and creased that sleeve.
Narrator One: Boomer slipped on the helmet, then squinted through the goggles.
Boomer: Did these keep the bugs out of your eyes?
Poppy: Not many bugs flew into the cockpit! But I sure was grateful for those goggles the night my whole canopy tore off in mid-air. Between the freezing rain and pressure against my face, I could barely see. Thank goodness some other pilots guided me down to the ground. Could you show your classmates that jacket and helmet? And there’s more in this suitcase.
Boomer: I don’t know, Poppy.
Nurse: Visiting hours are over.
Poppy: You can decide at home.
Narrator Two: That night Boomer slipped on the leather jacket, pulled on the helmet and faced the bedroom mirror.
Boomer: I am a, umm, umm Tuskegee Airman! Aww. My head looks like a buckeye.
Narrator Two: He stuffed his hands into the jacket pockets. Something soft as a cat’s tail touched his fingers.
Boomer: What’s this?
Narrator Two: Boomer held up a velvet pouch. He opened the pouch and drew out a red-tailed model airplane.
Boomer: Oh, the P-51!
Chorus: The P-51. The P-51.
Narrator Two: He spun the propeller. Then he set the plane on his nightstand.
Narrator One: The next morning, he trudged into his classroom. Poppy’s suitcase felt heavier with each step.
Mrs. Kane: Now, Class. Settle down. Unfortunately, Mr. Harris won't be joining us, but his great-grandson, Boomer, will tell us about the Tuskegee pilots who served our country so bravely.
Narrator Two: Boomer walked to the front of the room.
Jason: This is going to be so boring.
Angela: I hope he doesn’t drop anything this time.
Narrator Two: Suddenly, the suitcase snapped open and slipped from Boomer’s hands. The helmet slid across the floor.
Boomer: Uh-oh, I can't do this.
Narrator One: Boomer picked up the helmet and thought of his great-grandfather's proud face. He swallowed and took a deep breath.
Boomer: This is the leather jacket my great-grandfather wore. Poppy and his friends were some of the first black Air Force pilots.
Narrator Two: Then he held up the goggles.
Jason: Those are so cool!
Boomer: He was really glad he was wearing these when the cover over the cockpit fell right off the plane in mid-air!
Angela: Oh my goodness.
Boomer: This is a model of his P-51 plane. It flew as fast as lightning!
Jason: Hold it up higher so I can see it.
Martin: Look at that red tail!
Ricardo: Can I spin the propeller?
Narrator Two: The next day, Boomer and Poppy tucked the jacket and helmet back into the suitcase. But Poppy held up the model plane.
Poppy: Boomer, you keep this someplace where you can see it. Maybe on your dresser.
Boomer: Thanks Poppy.
Narrator One: The P-51 gleamed next to his plate all through their dinner of spareribs, baked beans and strawberry pie.
“The Memorial Day Mission” was published in Spider Magazine in May 2008.
We'd love to see your class or group of friends read the script! Contact me at [email protected] or visit
http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/page/Debbie+Ann+Taylor
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For more information about the Tuskegee Airmen, visit:
Tuskegee Airmen Inc.
http://www.tuskegeeairmen.org
Tuskegee Airmen: 5 Fascinating Facts
http://www.history.com/news/the-tuskegee-airmen-5-fascinating-facts
Tuskegee Airman Facts
http://www.tuskegee.edu/about_us/legacy_of_fame/tuskegee_airmen/tuskegee_airmen_facts.aspx
Tuskegee Airmen
http://www.historynet.com/tuskegee-airmen
Honor Thy Father: A Tuskegee Airman
http://www.josephgomer.com
Tuskegee Airmen (U.S. Air Force)
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=1356
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