An Afternoon with Rick Ramseyer

Rick Ramseyer will be in store October 24 from 1 pm to 3 pm signing copies of his book Girl Without A Country! Come hear this fascinating true story about Ramseyer's grandmother, whom he has been researching for over a decade.

About the Book

Should willingness to K*ll be a requirement for U.S. citizenship? Girl Without a Country tells the compelling, confounding story of Martha Graber―a Mennonite, registered nurse, and conscientious objector who in 1929 was twice denied citizenship because she refused to say she would take up arms to defend the United States. The denials, which came despite Martha's pledge to give her life for her adopted country, caught the attention of a diverse group of peace advocates, religious leaders, lawyers, and politicians, setting up a climactic third court appearance that was covered by newspapers nationwide.

Martha’s nineteen-month fight for citizenship features dramatic testimony, historical insights, and interesting backstories that stretch from Alsace-Lorraine in western Europe to America’s heartland. Elegantly written by Martha’s maternal grandson with never-before-published details and closely connected with a controversial Supreme Court decision, Girl Without a Country surfaces an array of topical issues, ranging from pacifism and patriotism to immigration and conscientious objection. Perhaps most importantly, Martha’s story considers what it truly means to be an American.