DISCOVERING HISTORY - IN THE GARAGE
DISCOVER APRIL 22, 2022
Left for me by my father who died in 1993, some thirty years ago. When the pages of the document were first found in 2022 it was researched on the internet by using Gittelson’s name. The Marine Corp’s “The Purest Democracy” webpage appeared. It was the first recognition that what had been found might be of historical interest.
THE STARTING LINE AND JOURNEY
Were the sheets of slightly tanned and lined papers possibly the original works of Gittelsohn? No, … later it was found that Gittelsohn’s name was not spelled correctly.
After that simple error was detected the investigation into the origin of the original document took on it’s own life. Hours upon hours went into seeking out the little information that could be found about the physical copy of the eulogy itself. What became clear was that this handwritten document was of historical significance.
NOT RABBI GITTELSOHN'S ORIGINAL
Recognizing that the found document was not Gittelsohn’s original copy was at first disappointing. That disappointment changed quickly.
If the found document was not Gittelsohn’s then who wrote it? Jim was not a candidate and was dismissed early on. Because of years of parkinson’s disease symptoms his handwriting had become a scrawl so certainly it could not possibly be Jim’s.
Then, while looking through all the WW2 materials he left behind a small stack of postcards was found that he had written his mother while in the service. His writing was crisp, legible and much different from one’s memory of his later years. Jim quickly became a contender. Holding one of Jim’s postcard next to the found document made it clear … it was Jim who had put pen to paper and copied Gittelsohn’s eulogy.
Jim’s son Ken was no longer disappointed but reveled in the idea that his father thought so highly of Rabbi Gittelsohn’s words that he copied and stored those words safely away. Clearly, Gittelsohn’s words must have had great meaning to him.
And the journey began because that changed everything!
Ken’s Personal Comments
There was a personal and internal urgency to spread the hopeful words Gittelsohn had left the American people so long ago. Words that spoke of winning democracy in war only to lose our democracy in peacetime. Words that described the high price paid for democracy in terms of human lives and human capital lost. The ultimate question was … had we learned our lessions from the past so that history would not repeat itself and as such there would never be a WW3 and we would never again send our fathers, sons and daughters to war.
Two months before locating this document Russia attacked Ukraine and people were being slaughtered. There was concern of nuclear weapons being used. America and it’s allies in support of Ukraine sent weapons for it’s defense, always with a possibility of “poking the bear” (Russia) and provoking further escalation of the war to other countries. Meanwhile, America was in it’s own political and social turmoil and the next voting cycle was approaching.
Suddenly, this eulogy comes to light – a Document For The People in our time, today, this moment, if only we recognized it. To read Rabbi Gittelsohn’s Iwo Jima eulogy with words of human decency and hope for America and all mankind is a document that should never be hidden in a box or under a pile of history.
Gittelsohn’s eulogy should be raised high for all to see once again. So I’ve taken it upon myself to search for a good home where the public can view this “masterpiece” (Gittelsohn’s “Mona Lisa” I call it) so that I can finally lay my father to rest – once again.
Lots of memories have resurfaced since finding and researching my father’s document. My wife suggested that 30 years after his passing I’m currently mourning my father at last. She’s probably right.
I honor my father with tears. He was a good man, a good citizen and a person of good will and intent. The world needs more people like my father, as imperfect as he was.