I WANT TO SAVE YOUR MEMORIES OF THE WAR THAT SAVED THE WORLD The Institute on
World
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Dear Vets: Once again, those Americans who sacrificed so much during World War II are being called upon to share their personal possessions that recall that poignant, tragic, exciting, terrible and yes, even romantic time in their lives. The Florida State University Department of History has taken on the formidable task of collecting, preserving and assimilating those articles which describe and depict the day to day existence in the War years, 1941-45. Collection of these materials is made difficult because of the strong emotions which attach to the memorabilia of the period. Reluctance to part with the reminders range from embarrassment to extreme modesty. The war years were a time of great emotional freedom and actions were unfettered by the consequences of an uncertain future. Today, more than 50 years later, these personal accounts will give historians an unsterilized view of those events which changed the world forever. Unfortunately these precious items are being lost daily. Those who chronicled the events are well into the winter of their lives and in many cases the significance of the materials are unrecognized by later generations. Scholars have long recognized the true worth of research in these unvarnished accounts of small events which made up the colossal struggles of war. Contained in the documents being collected are remarkable stories of personal heroism, bawdiness, romance and even unflattering glimpses of the idolized leaders of that remarkable period in our history. Shelby Footes' artistic portrayal of the American Civil War is an example of what can be gleaned from a careful analysis of a collection of seemingly mundane bits and pieces from the past. Surely in the future some talented storyteller will weave the leftovers from World War Ii into the epic that it was. "The Institute on World War II and the Human Experience" at Florida State University is the only central repository for those things during World War II. This effort deserves the support and contributions not only of those who took part in the drama but from those who benefitted from their sacrifices. No legacy is more valuable than a precious memory. George Langford Trained with 20th Armored Division Served in the E.T.O. as a Sergeant in 3083 M.V.D. Company
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