Why are we who we are? In search of an answer to this age old question, an old man reflected repeatedly on his boyhood. From that search came this story about a place; about a people; and, about a boy. The place was a small town in Pennsylvania called Morrisville; the people and the boy were living during a time when the World was suffering through a Great Depression, only to be followed by a World War. Although these difficult times were more than 75 years ago, the old man could feel he was there again. It was here he learned a special code of conduct born of this era: frugality, conservation, independence, no free lunch, and of family love and loyalty. This was a time when the work ethic was strong, a time when needs were separated from wants, a time when friendships brought with them commitments, a time when neighbors helped neighbors without being asked, and a time when two boys often had to assume the work of a man who was away serving our country. Here you will find recollections both factual and fanciful. Stories told sometimes in a humorous vain, yet often combined with sadness. Here you’ll find tales that bring to life the chaos and uncertainty of the time. Protected by the love of a family, the pride and traditions of a community, the support of friends and neighbors, and the courage of our Nation’s Greatest Generation, this is a story about a boyhood that could have happened only once . . . once upon my time.