Jewells of Thought

Each day this past week on Facebook I shared a photo, some thoughts or information like the Operations Map. I have shared stuff before, but not quite like this on Facebook for an entire week. I finally understand the idea of the Facebook ‘Story’. The response was pretty neat to see from day to day.

Honestly, I have always tried to balance the line of sharing and keeping for the book’s debut. That is a nearly impossible task to hold firm towards. These artifacts have such meaning and yet I know they are simply materials. It’s the story that matters more now… yet seeing these artifacts will help the younger generations to understand the differences in the era and to simply see Grandpa’s handwriting, medals and insignia.

This week was really just the beginning though, Sunday was a new journey that most uniforms didn’t want to imagine. Leo and more than 200 other men were now having to live that new reality. Last night my Preacher mentioned Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I have pondered this man a lot since I was introduced to him in College.

A type of Renaissance Man of sorts in his own right. Yet a very dangerous man uplifting other prisoners spirits and writing to his own special lady. There are times I think in specific ways Grandpa and Dietrich are cut from the same cloth. Grandpa even had German Family roots the same as Dietrich.

Grandpa very briefly describes the next five days. If you truly put yourself into his words, they were exhausted emotionally, physically and spiritually I would have to assume. Yet that’s not the end of the story. Grandpa was able to, not extensively of course, but he was able to tell his story… to us… in his way. His brief of 3 pages.

I just get goosebumps being able to share what I have researched and found personally with the letters my family has recently found. They give us such a wonderful new perspective on a time that I can now share with new generations in our family. Not to forget our family friends who knew and loved Grandpa as well. This is such a sweet and bittersweet way to share with everyone.