Posts Tagged ‘wwii’

Pilgrimage

Saturday, November 3rd, 2012

I’m a California girl, but truth be told, I had my start in New Jersey. Little would I have ever guessed, that on my birthday, I would have the opportunity to stand in front of my first home, swing by the hospital of my birth, and reconnect with one of my cousins who hasn’t strayed far from home. Pretty cool.

My mom and dad and all their family came from these northeast jersey parts, but World War II and the Marine Corp gave them the bug to move to San Diego when I was a 4 year old. Up and left family and friends and moved to the land of opportunity. We lived in Bird Rock, and then the Muirlands of La Jolla so I haven’t strayed far.

So I am back to my roots, and ever so glad to reconnect but even more glad to be in the land of sunshine!

WAR

Friday, July 13th, 2012

I can’t help but think about World War II when I am in Germany. Steve and I had parents who fought in it, and evidences of it are all around.

After D-Day with the assault on the beaches of Normandy, the Allied troops whittled their way across France into Germany to put down Hitler’s war machine. What they didn’t bomb, the Germans bombed so nothing was found to capture. I did a bunch of reading on the battles and philosophies and am nearly finished “The Nuremberg Trials” (not an easy read). Does it count that I watched “Judgement at Nuremberg” the movie twice!?

Well today we are in Nuremberg. It is the sight of most of those parades you see with all the soldiers heiling the Furher. Went to the Memorial at the sight of the trials and it was appalling that the worst of war criminals; Hitler, Goebbels, and Himmler were never  brought to justice…they committed suicide.

The towns we have visited were all damaged in bombings but the Americans chose not to bomb historical sites so many of those only needed repairing. It was interesting to see train tunnels disguised as castle parts to avoid shelling.  

Sixty five years later it’s still a horror the world should not forget.

Adolph From Pennyslvania

Monday, July 9th, 2012

On our travels we always pray that God would show us His GLORY – and it has never failed that scales practically fall from our eyes and we see incredible sights and wonders.  Yesterday I teared up as it hit me like a ton of bricks, that it wasn’t the scenery that was the glory, but the people on this cruise!  In our attempt to meet everyone on this ship, we have heard about some amazing lives, and found the world a smaller place.

…but my tale.    

Adolph is a lively elderly gentleman whose son put him in assisted care a few years back when his wife died.  Adolph showed him up by deciding to travel 11 months of the year.  But the real story is that Adolph was a Nazi tank driver in World War II.  One day an officer commandeered his tank and subsequently the tank was blown up. Adolph’s dog tags were in the tank so while he became a POW in a Russian Prison Camp, his parents were told he had died in commbat.  Five years after he miraculously survived the experience he showed up on his family’s door step!

He’s a real hit with the single ladies on the ship and his dashing figure is always on the dance floor.              

I’ll try to get a photo soon!

Monumental Night!

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

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We spent the evening of Nov. 2, touring the capitol with Joan and her friend Doris at night. It was a gorgeous evening and a whole different take on all the monuments. The moon was awesome, and the line up of monuments (Capitol,Washington,Lincoln, Iwo Jima, WWII) was pretty amazing. What a great end to a wonderful day and time in D.C.

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Liberation Day

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

liberationbandWe had quite a day yesterday Saturday, April 25, 2009.  It was Italian Liberation Day-celebrating liberation from the Nazis and Mussolini.  Funny that there was no mention  who liberated them.

The community band led the way of the Mayor and other dignitaries, who gave brief speeches and laid wreaths to honor those local folk who gave up their lives during WWII.  The day started with a 10k run, and included a big cookout behind the fortress to raise money for the youth soccer clubs.  There was a volleyball tournament at the school and the village was filled with visitors and families had barbeques and get-togethers!  Everything but the fireworks.bannerliberationday

Omaha Beach

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

You can’t imagine how moving this special location is until you witness it first hand. It is quite a stirring memorial to the thousands of young people who gave their lives on June 6, 1944, and in the ensuing days.  normandycrossesThe photos, testimonies, and mementos of those who served really came alive in the museum presentation and on the field of green that over looks the Omaha Beach.  While 3 of our parents served in this war, they were fortunate to serve in other locals: Barbara in Washington D.C., George in Africa and Brazil, and Joe went to China.  War is different now in so many ways…Steve was in Vietnam…and that was different too.  Unlike most other countries, service in our military is honored; it is not just a job but a commitment.  But the risks are great.  We were taken with the fact that the crosses we saw represented young people who gave up their futures so that others could have one.  And so many loved ones left behind to grow old without them.