Kelly Johnson and I visited Dachuas Concentration camp memorial this afternoon on our way north. It was the one location that I asked we stop at as my grandfather was part of the 42 Rainbow division who helped liberate the camp on April 29th 1945. He stood watch at the gate but never entered the camp. Kelly and I walked the grounds of the camp after entering the gate my grandfather stood watch at in case of the SS. The time there was filled with various emotions. I was proud of bearing the last name Johnson as someone who stood up to defend not just his country but the lives of innocent Jews (and other people groups identified as less worthy). But I was also overwhelmed with sadness for the countless lives lost in that place. And when we saw the wall depicting all the locations of the various camps throughout nazi controlled Europe, I had to walk away and catch my breath. How terrible. How awful. I am thankful I can live in a period of time not marred by such injustice and evil, but I am not naive to believe we live in a time of peace and goodness. The current news shows we are still capable of doing terrible things to one another. But there is hope. And I am thankful for God for sending his son to bring us that hope. In memory of Norbert Johnson and his service to not just his country and those liberated from Dachua but to Christ whom he served relentlessly.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:33:17 +0000
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