Beautifully written as always. Agree re the commemorations, much of it is autopilot but some of it is genuine. It's not only World War II we glorify, we glorify our family narratives, omitting the painful and shameful episodes to avoid the trauma hidden within, whether from war or peace.
Issue of war-time glorification often avoided as it might be taboo or seem un-patriotic to directly question these historic thematic WWII moments and iconic images imbedded in our US psyche. As I have just researched and publishing a book on my grandfather's WWII narrative, I realize that the personal letters written by fellow officers about his character and behaviour under his command are so much more revealing and meaningful personally and go beyond his military accomplishments or the assumed share of gory details he experienced in battle. By the end of my research I coincidentally recvd a typed ltr he had personally written to his family bk in the US after walking through the notorious death-camp of Dachau, telling his human emotions. Profoundly affecting.
Thank you Jennifer for sharing and articulating the need to go beyond the re-told history lesson, and find internal storylines.
Thanks for working with me Doug. It was an honor to help you with your research and publication of your book! I'll be raising a glass to you on the 6th!
Wow such a thought provoking question! I will spend much more time pondering this, but a couple things came to mind. My Great Uncle was a British soldier killed at Galipoli in WWI. His name is on the memorial there, his mother received a commemorative plaque etc. not much to compensate for the loss of your child, but acknowledgement of his contribution. His brother was also in the British Army and was a POW during WWI. He escaped several times and finally was held in a cage underground. Other prisoners would secretly drop food and water to him. He was released at the end of the war, and in the family story passed down "he was never quite right after that. Had nightmares and would shake the rails of the bed in his sleep". And that was it. Nothing more to the story. (An area I need to research more). The second thing that came to mind was the story of the first Silver Cross mother (a Canadian thing where a mother who lost a child at war represents all mothers of those killed at Remembrance Day ceremonies). In 2018, the mother of a soldier who served in Afghanistan and committed suicide after being unable to cope with life after, was named the Silver Cross mother. That acknowledgement of the " what after "part of the story was a first here. Here is a link to that story if you want to read how long it took. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/silver-cross-mother-anita-cenerini-thomas-welch-1.4882768
Beautifully written as always. Agree re the commemorations, much of it is autopilot but some of it is genuine. It's not only World War II we glorify, we glorify our family narratives, omitting the painful and shameful episodes to avoid the trauma hidden within, whether from war or peace.
That is true - we glorify many things rather than seeking out that which will heal.
Issue of war-time glorification often avoided as it might be taboo or seem un-patriotic to directly question these historic thematic WWII moments and iconic images imbedded in our US psyche. As I have just researched and publishing a book on my grandfather's WWII narrative, I realize that the personal letters written by fellow officers about his character and behaviour under his command are so much more revealing and meaningful personally and go beyond his military accomplishments or the assumed share of gory details he experienced in battle. By the end of my research I coincidentally recvd a typed ltr he had personally written to his family bk in the US after walking through the notorious death-camp of Dachau, telling his human emotions. Profoundly affecting.
Thank you Jennifer for sharing and articulating the need to go beyond the re-told history lesson, and find internal storylines.
Thanks for working with me Doug. It was an honor to help you with your research and publication of your book! I'll be raising a glass to you on the 6th!
Wow such a thought provoking question! I will spend much more time pondering this, but a couple things came to mind. My Great Uncle was a British soldier killed at Galipoli in WWI. His name is on the memorial there, his mother received a commemorative plaque etc. not much to compensate for the loss of your child, but acknowledgement of his contribution. His brother was also in the British Army and was a POW during WWI. He escaped several times and finally was held in a cage underground. Other prisoners would secretly drop food and water to him. He was released at the end of the war, and in the family story passed down "he was never quite right after that. Had nightmares and would shake the rails of the bed in his sleep". And that was it. Nothing more to the story. (An area I need to research more). The second thing that came to mind was the story of the first Silver Cross mother (a Canadian thing where a mother who lost a child at war represents all mothers of those killed at Remembrance Day ceremonies). In 2018, the mother of a soldier who served in Afghanistan and committed suicide after being unable to cope with life after, was named the Silver Cross mother. That acknowledgement of the " what after "part of the story was a first here. Here is a link to that story if you want to read how long it took. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/silver-cross-mother-anita-cenerini-thomas-welch-1.4882768
Thanks for sharing this. I'll take a look at that story. Sounds vaguely familiar...