Tell their stories

My buddy, Bob Watts, died last week at the age of 96.

I met Bob - as I do many people - because I wrote a story about him and his efforts to make sure every veteran's grave was decorated with a flag for Memorial Day.

That interaction led to a longer story later, telling of his experiences in World War II, when he was part of a group of soldiers that served for more than 500 days in the 125th Field Artillery, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division and fought their way through North Africa and Italy.

Like many in his Greatest Generation, Bob never really stopped working. Sure, he retired, but he found a new avocation: in promotions.

Bob promoted his friends, his family and his passions. He sent out a monthly newsletter to the many and varied members of the 125th FA group, which grew way beyond its original soldier-members to include friends and family of members, other veterans or supporters, and people that Bob liked (like me). They were missives of meticulously pieced-together images and text, literally cut and pasted onto a page before he made photocopies. It included the latest news of the group's original soldier-members, but also included notes from Bob, on everything from the U.S. Postal Service, to the National Guard, to national politics. He might tell a hunting story or two as well. But he always found a person to highlight, and sometimes a whole list of them.

We can all learn from Bob, this enthusiastic unpaid promoter who worked to share stories he thought were important, and whose own story you can hear at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Duluth, where it was recorded in his own voice at least 10 years ago.

That's where you come in, Gentle Readers. We want you to reach out to your relatives, your friends, your card-playing partners and your drinking buddies, and get them to tell their story. They don't have to be World War II vets, it can be any era.

We can learn a lot from the men and women who have fought for us, and we should also honor them by writing down those words and stories.

The first step is easy and probably the most important one.

Sit down with your aging mom or grandpa, your friend, or your friend's dad and turn on your cell phone recorder and start a conversation. Have fun. Ask questions. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand what it was like. Gather any photographs, and tape descriptions to the back, because you'll forget and sticky notes might fall off.

It won't be quick, but it will be worth it, for both of you.

If you have time, go that extra mile and write their story. Then come by the Pine Knot News office (or email [email protected]) and we'll work together to share it with the world.

Bob's story has been told, but there are many veterans out there who will take theirs to the grave because they haven't been asked, or because they haven't been ready.

Let's tell their stories before they are gone forever.

Jana Peterson is the editor of the Pine Knot News.