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& Remarks at CALEB
Library Dedication Following are remarks written by the mother of
Caleb J. Pulver to be read at the
dedication service for the original Caleb Library. These remarks were presented by Maralyn
Dettmann, on behalf of Virginia and
Mark Pulver. |
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NYIKA PROGRESSIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL Caleb Library Dedication Aug 2004, Rumphi, Malawi, Africa Remarks
by Virginia J. Pulver (Presented by Maralyn Dettmann) It would
be a pleasure for Caleb’s father and me to be there with all of you gathered
at this site today – I can imagine the love in this group and even more
important, the joy. When
my husband and I visited Nyika Progressive Secondary School back in July
2001, we had no idea that it would be the beginning of a shared history. We had no idea that a library would be built here to honor the memory of our son, Caleb
Jeremiah Pulver. Henry
Miller, an American author has much to say about how books influence our
lives. He says: “Books are one of
the few things men cherish deeply. And the better
the man the more easily will he part with his most cherished possessions. A
book lying idle on a shelf is wasted ammunition. Like money, books must be kept in constant circulation…books represent
infinitely more than money. A book is not only a friend,
it makes friends for you. When you have possessed a
book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But
when you pass it on you are enriched threefold." This
passage is filled with the energy and spirit we hope
your library embraces. Keep the books
circulating…you are richer for it! I
know that my life is richer for the experience of sharing books. Filling
the shelves of this library provides an opportunity for individuals to
act. I am reminded of the words of
Mother Teresa, peacemaker, pioneer and legend: "Do not wait
for leaders; do it alone, person to person." That is
how the Caleb Jeremiah Pulver Library came about: book by book, person by
person. The original book donors were
individuals, students from Emerald High School, in a small town in South
Carolina, USA. The books were sent to honor the memory of our son. Soon others were inspired
by the kind acts of these students and they began sending books too. Friends and family and many strangers too, have chosen to
honor Caleb’s memory by sending books from all around the world. The books which are
flowing in make this library a living, vital memory of our son. It pleases me to know his name lives on in
this wonderful way and that his spirit lives on too. Now when we think of the staff, faculty and
students at this school, we feel connected somehow. Caleb
died when he was just 26, but he lived a rich, full life. Books were instrumental in making that life
so extraordinary. S. I. Hayakawa, an
American educator and US Senator from California, once said, Caleb
read voraciously and echoed much of what he read in the choices he made in
his life. Caleb witnessed so much
beauty in the world and lived his life with vigor, vitality, and
gentleness. He lived his life with
enthusiasm and joy, fueled, in part, by all the beautiful magic he found in
books. He found great pleasure in
reading and knew that books open the doors of the world and let in light and knowledge and opportunities to experience the
world vicariously. It is fitting that
a library should be established to honor his
memory. The books that flow into this
library will open the eyes and ears of all who read them. That knowledge and beauty are part of
Caleb’s legacy. Caleb
was well read. He seldom ventured out
without a book in his pocket. Ernest
Hemingway’s novels propelled him to visit Pamplona, Spain to witness the
running of the bulls. Classic novels
by Stevenson and others filled his young head with dreams of pirates and
sailing ships which came alive for him when he saw
the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Books
played a significant role in learning new skills whether it was crewing a boat on the Charles River or running
cross-country in the crisp New England air.
The pages of a book inspired him to scale the rocky walls of
mountains. Books lead him to his love
of motorcycles. Eventually he felt the
sting of the wind and the joyous freedom of the road when he rode his
motorcycle across the deserts of Arizona.
Books helped him master lighting and sound equipment for theater
productions and inspired him to take a role as a squire in a renaissance
faire. He learned the basics of making
chain mail from a book. It was a book that motivated his deep desire to serve his country in
the United States Air Force. His
passion for reading made him an enthusiastic college student. Caleb
traveled to Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Frankfurt, Tangiers, and saw a thousand
other places we’ll never know about and he read
about even more places. It is
our wish that this library will continue to grow and that the patrons of this
library will find the pleasures of reading.
Sharing good books and sharing good lives. The students, faculty and staff can
explore the world through books. I am
grateful to you all for this opportunity to keep Caleb’s spirit alive. I keep in mind the words of author Thomas
Carlyle: "A good book is
the purest essence of a human soul." If I
were there speaking to you in person, I would close now with a gesture that
has become very important to the Pulver family. Whenever we gather, someone usually finds
an opportunity to launch a flurry of sparkling, rainbow soap bubbles … always
a moment of celebration and, now, a moment of remembrance…please indulge me
… [BLOW SOAP BUBBLES] Thank you. Caleb’s
father and I wish you each blessings of joy…and the gift of books. |
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