PASSPORT TO COLDITZ

PASSPORT TO COLDITZ

By Andy Weddington

Sunday, 30 July 2023

The great, the fundamental need of any nation, any race, is for heroism, devotion, sacrifice, and there cannot be heroism, devotion, or sacrifice in a primarily skeptical spirit. - Anna Julia Cooper

A passport to enter Colditz was not required.

Entrance was granted if a captured enemy (particularly a valuable one) of the Third Reich. 

Once imprisoned duty-bound to escape.

And if successful, a passport, albeit not genuine, necessary during dangerous trek to freedom. 

Some made it.

But most captured and returned.

To Colditz in a moment. 

A couple days ago arrived my new passport. 

It's a bit different than the ten years old one replaced. 

At top inside front cover ...

"O say does that star 

spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free

& the home of the brave!"

At top on the opposing page ...

"AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE,

BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE,

SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH. - Abraham Lincoln"

The following pages numbered through 26 adorned with slightly stronger than watermark patriotic images for stamping visas. 

At the bottom inside back cover ...

"The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class - it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity. - Anna Julia Cooper 

Freedom. 

This morning I felt it necessary to remind a childhood friend just how serious I hold dear the Constitution, flag, and our country. 

And that my sworn oath to support and defend against foreign and domestic enemies is still active.

With age those words burrow deeper and deeper. 

At present, domestic enemies downright hostile to Constitution, flag, and country seem our most serious threat. 

Why would foreign enemies do other than spectate?  

Thus no surprise I've not sense of humor when coming to those who ask we the people entrust them with high office - with momentary responsibility for safeguarding our founding and way of life.

Serious business. 

Those struggling with said idea need only journey to and meander the grounds of a national cemetery.

Get to know those people. For them, your freedom. And the likes of them presently stand watch. 

My new passport mentions nothing of BLM, CRT, DEI, LBGTQ+ nor is there promotion whatsoever for trans, woke, or any other faddish movement. 

The passport identifies me as American. 

The passport content reflects the America I know.

The passport foot stomps freedom. 

Not sure of freedom? 

Read the Bill of Rights (first 10 Amendments in the Constitution). 

So some things are still in good order. 

Colditz was a German prison during World War II. 

Why I did not know about Colditz until a couple weeks ago is inexplicable and rather embarrassing.

But I know now the structure's history - including holding people against their will; ever scheming for freedom. 

There's a fairly recent (nonfiction) book telling the Colditz story -

'Prisoners of the Castle' by Ben Macintyre.

The subtitle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz - the Nazis' Fortress Prison

Mr. Macintyre did his homework. And wrote a riveting tale spanning several years. 

Some names you may know. 

Other names you will know.  

Some surprising. 

Captives knew not fate so escape their preoccupation.

And as Germany's fate clear, with captors shifting from German Army to SS and Gestapo, escape imperative.

War boils down to free or not. 

Freedom prevailed; at great sacrifice. 

Heroism, devotion, sacrifice quite nicely summarizes our fallen - safeguarding freedom. 

In my passport, on every page, I see white marble head stones.

Imagine that.

Post Script: Anna Julia Cooper was born into slavery 10 August 1858, Raleigh, NC and died 105 years later 27 February 1964, Washington, D.C. Her academic beginnings at St. Augustine's College, Raleigh NC. [Note: In the early 1990s I painted the portrait St. Aug's President, Dr. Prezell Robinson - his portrait hangs in the library.] Dr. Cooper is buried in City Cemetery, Raleigh, NC. Until reviewing my passport I was not familiar with her. Her take on freedom? Personal. A grave visit now in order.