In Others' Words

It wasn't a new documentary that caught my eye the other evening. In fact, I had forgotten the film and the stories it told until it suddenly connected. I said, aloud to myself as the old brain kicked into gear, "I've seen this before."

Leaning forward in the recliner as the program continued scenes, which several years ago had etched indelible pictures in my mind, now were being reprogrammed. How could I have forgotten those graphic pictures? At least they were recalled. Time and age do take their toll.

But there they were, pictures that had been filmed 10 years ago, in 2007. And coupled with them were films made more than 70 years ago.

Let me explain. The documentary, "In Their Words: Their Journey, A Veterans' Tribute Tour," was produced by AETN (Arkansas Educational Television Network). It is a documentary that lives and breathes; it tells a very valuable story. It should be run and rerun and rerun and rerun, lest we forget. We must never forget!

"In Their Words...." was properly named since it involved recollections of veterans from that second great war, World War II, veterans who had lived during and through those horrific four years when America was totally involved in helping maintain and strengthen our freedom -- and that of the world -- a freedom made possible by the sacrifice of those called and those who volunteered, to protect and secure the freedom we of the 21st century now enjoy.

It was a crowd of excited veterans, with their spouses or other helpers, waiting to board the jetliner that would take them to our nation's Capitol, where they would visit the World War II Memorial, as well as other historic sites. Numerous other flights have taken groups on this memorable pilgrimage.

Seeing the old codgers -- please, believe me, this is meant as a loving tribute to those elderly, white-haired real heroes who in the twilight of their lives were being taken to see the memorial that honors them and the thousands and thousands of other men and women who did their part -- allows us to sadly shake our heads at the forgetfulness of so many and, yes, at so many who seem to lack patriotism and appreciation. Such is our evolving culture.

As the film progressed, I watched the joy and smiles as these veterans shared memories with each other of rare good times they experienced during their service, during those early 1940s. And then ... sometimes sadness filled their eyes when, during heartbreaking moments, they relived seeing a comrade fall on the battlefield, a tragedy on a ship, or watching helplessly as a plane spiraled, belching smoke as it fell.

Battlefields can only be described by those who survived them, who crawled through mud or raced and dodged bullets spraying toward them as mortar shells or grenade explosions searched for them, or as planes loosened their whining cargoes of explosives that caused the earth to shudder. And intermingled with the noise and fury and uncertainty, too often there were cries from those who would never see their homes again, who could never look at the memorial that honors them -- every one of them!

These are only words to many, but they are never-forgotten feelings in the hearts and minds of those who have given so much for so many.

Yes, the hour-and-a-half film was so touching. It was impossible to prevent the tears from forming. There are just no words to describe pictures of Nazi death chambers with hundreds of naked skeleton bodies and the relief and thankfulness of those who were rescued. Such were the products of evil -- an evil war that overtook the world almost a century ago -- an evil that still rears its ugly butcher knife in many parts of today's so-called civilized world. How can such unthinkable crime happen today? What is the answer to such evil? How can it be overcome? How can we reach evil minds which have no concept of decency and freedom and love?

Veterans Day has come and gone, and those who have served and who are serving were recognized in special programs, at parades, in newspaper columns, and in letters to the editor in our state paper, letters which too often spout vile descriptions of programs and persons with whom they disagree, whose words never express a thankful thought that they live in a country where they are free to spit such vile -- (you fill in a word you feel is appropriate).

Doesn't it seem appropriate that Veterans Day and Thanksgiving are both celebrated in November? It is a season that demands thankfulness for all our blessings as Americans, thankfulness for all who have given so much and for all we are given every day of our lives. Shopping days, sporting events, lounging in recliners, making plans for another holiday -- Christmas -- are all important in their own ways, but those are secondary, aren't they? For deep inside us must grow the knowledge of what and for whom we should be, must be, thankful. So much has been given us. Giving thanks should be so easy ... unless we forget.

Epilogue: It is because of programs such as the AETN documentary that we are reminded of who we are and how we are able to be who we are. I watched the film clips of that group of veterans, heard words from several who were interviewed and watched as they limped, leaned on others or were wheeled in a chair to a trip they earned so many years ago. As I watched, I wondered how many of those who were honored have joined the comrades whom they lost those many years ago? Time does take its toll. But thankfulness and freedom must live forever. Others' words remind us!

Dodie Evans is the former owner and longtime editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.

General News on 11/22/2017