I. The Power of Memory

A book of conversations with World War II bomber pilots was recently published. One of the conversations is with one of our own, Bob Elliott.

While we were playing together in the Edward Barksdale Golf Tournament, Rodney Gilbert told me about a friend of his, another bomber pilot who was shot down and wounded. The pilot spent time in a German hospital being treated for his wounds. Then he was sent to a prison camp. Go figure. The Germans provide medical attention to save a man’s life so they can then torture him. War is hell.

Rodney commented on how reluctant his friend is to talk about his experience. I suspect it is because to talk about it is to relive it. Memory has the power of moving what was to what is, of making the past present.

On this Memorial Day week…