question for Al & Jim...others chime in too

[PolynesianPixie]

Scott's (DH) mom gave us this really cool thing but I'm not sure what to do with it.

His Grandad (Grant) fought in WW 2 and was in France the day the war ended. He and a friend ripped down Nazi flags and brought them home. With one of these flags Grant's mother (Scott's great-grandmother) took and turned into a quilt, embroidering the names of all her sons and where they had been stationed in the war.

This is obviously quite a keepsake. It deserves to be out and displayed, not tucked in a bag or catching dust. It is very large though (imagine a Nazi flag that was intended to be prominent). I'd like to do something with it to protect and cherish it. I'd also like to give this to Scott for father's day.

So, what, in your opinions, would be a respectful way to honor Grant and this family "heirloom"? I ask our veterans specifically because I feel they may have a sentimental response...but please...anyone else with opinions and ideas, please chime in!

 

[kc5grw]

What about displaying it in a triangular flag case. It isn't quite so in-your-face that way. You can have a plaque engraved and attached to the case that explains the significance.

This is what I'm talking about: http://www.united-states-flag.com/displaycases.html

 

[ntsammy5]

Just and idea, but most, if not all, army bases have museums - why not contact one of the Forts closest to you, probably Benning or Bragg and see if they're interested in displaying it. Sounds interesting. Could you post a picture of it? Thanks

 

[VACAMPER]

Call the D Day memorial in Bedford Ami, they are wanting some things my uncle has from the war. we are going to take him to visit soon i hope. You never know, they like to display things.

 

[DisneyBishops]

On display would be ok, just not flown anywhere in the US

 

[ftwildernessguy]

This could be a real pandora's box, Ami. I like Al's idea the best and would probably be most appropriate. Hitler and his politics are still very much a controversy, especially among Jewish people. Not sure if you have any Jewish friends, but they could easily take offense at this being displayed in your home.

A related anecdote - I know the curator of art at the War College in Carlisle, PA. It seems they have a large warehouse where they store their art collection, and in the middle is a large vault. He looked inside once and was amazed to find hundreds of paintings done by none other than Adolph himself. Seems the US Army confiscated them after the war and brought them to the US for storage. He contacted the German government to arrange for their return and they wanted nothing to do with them. So they tossed around the idea of having a display of them in the US, but decided it was too controversial. So the vault was locked and will remain that way for a while anyway. I do wish I could convince him to let me see them, but he said he has been told it is a no no.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I never thought about displaying it anywhere else before...that's a pretty cool idea. It's sort of personal and I guess I never thought it would be interesting to anyone else. I will take a picture of it and put it up here in a bit.

Thanks for these ideas!

The one about a flag case is good too...especially with the plaque.

This could be a real pandora's box, Ami. I like Al's idea the best and would probably be most appropriate. Hitler and his politics are still very much a controversy, especially among Jewish people. Not sure if you have any Jewish friends, but they could easily take offense at this being displayed in your home.

Interesting point. The couple we probably hang out with most is Jewish....I'll ask them how they feel about it. I certainly don't want them feeling uncomfortable over here! I'm sure they've seen the flag here before, but I have it folded up over a screen right now and I don't imagine they know what it is at this point. I'm not sure we've shown it to them. I see that flag as a symbol of a win against an evil force. There is a reason that a small town girl has a cut up Nazi flag in her den....

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Here it is.....

This one is pretty blurry, but I wanted to give a sense of the Great Grandmother's embroidery

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Now that I see it, unless someone knew the origins, no one would know it was a Nazi flag. I had visions of a big swastika or one of the SS flags.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Now that I see it, unless someone knew the origins, no one would know it was a Nazi flag. I had visions of a big swastika or one of the SS flags.

No, no....despite it's sentimental value I don't think I could stomach looking at a swastika every day! I think I would put it in a box and be happy knowing it was there!

Although I did go back and read my first post.....ok, ok, "cherish" and "Nazi" in the same paragraph does come off a little.......horrible. It's not like that really! I have a talent for putting my foot in my mouth! Apparently my virtual mouth is no exception!

This artifact is a tribute to a man, no longer with us, who we love dearly...who's sacrifices we admire and appreciate. It was handstitched by the mother who watched all of her sons leave to go fight against Hitler. The symbol of her pain is this flag. She took it apart and lovingly made something beautiful from it.

This is why the flag is cherished

 

[liv luvs disney]

I never thought about displaying it anywhere else before...that's a pretty cool idea. It's sort of personal and I guess I never thought it would be interesting to anyone else. I will take a picture of it and put it up here in a bit.

Thanks for these ideas!

The one about a flag case is good too...especially with the plaque.



Interesting point. The couple we probably hang out with most is Jewish....I'll ask them how they feel about it. I certainly don't want them feeling uncomfortable over here! I'm sure they've seen the flag here before, but I have it folded up over a screen right now and I don't imagine they know what it is at this point. I'm not sure we've shown it to them. I see that flag as a symbol of a win against an evil force. There is a reason that a small town girl has a cut up Nazi flag in her den....

 

[liv luvs disney]

Now that I see it, unless someone knew the origins, no one would know it was a Nazi flag. I had visions of a big swastika or one of the SS flags.

I agree...not that anyone asked my opinion.
I think the quilt is beautiful and more than worthy to be displayed in your home.

 

[big kahuna1]

Now that I see it, unless someone knew the origins, no one would know it was a Nazi flag. I had visions of a big swastika or one of the SS flags.

Same here. If you did not tell me what it was I would have had no idea.

 

[DisneyBishops]

Now that I see it, unless someone knew the origins, no one would know it was a Nazi flag. I had visions of a big swastika or one of the SS flags.

same here Jim. I thought of swastikas and the SS.

But I wouldn't know what this flag was either.

 

[AuburnJen92]

I would say that current generations of the Jewish faith may have a problem remembering it, however, we have quite a few Holocaust survivors down here and I recognized it right off the bat. I am not Jewish by faith, but I have cried at every presentation I have been to from the survivors. A lady in our orchestra has even published a book about her experience. I would still ask your friends if they recognize it first. I hate to be a worry-wart here, but the stories I have heard (recently as last month at a presentation to 9th graders) "tore my heart out and stomped that sucker flat." (to quote the late and great Lewis Grizzard)

I would still ask, but that is just me.

 

[clkelley]

I would say that current generations of the Jewish faith may have a problem remembering it, however, we have quite a few Holocaust survivors down here and I recognized it right off the bat. I am not Jewish by faith, but I have cried at every presentation I have been to from the survivors. A lady in our orchestra has even published a book about her experience. I would still ask your friends if they recognize it first. I hate to be a worry-wart here, but the stories I have heard (recently as last month at a presentation to 9th graders) "tore my heart out and stomped that sucker flat." (to quote the late and great Lewis Grizzard)

I would still ask, but that is just me.

I agree!! When we were in DC in 05, the one place my son wanted to see was the Holocaust Museum. Boy that place just floored me. The horror those poor people went through.

However, I also recently read a book about what WE (the United States) did to the Japanese living here during the same war, ugh!!

 

[mrsscooter]

I agree, that I would ask your friends, first, what their feelings are on the matter. BUT if they dont have any issues in you displaying it, do you have a nice tall entry way, or big wall space over your fire place, bed, tc.?? If so, I would get a special wooden quilt hanger, or I think they make sthrem speceifely for quilts.....Just ad idea

 

[Gatordad]

The Swastika was around loooong before Hitler.

 

[des1954]

Ami-

I personally would look for a specialist in material/cloth preservation to find out how to properly treat/store/display this keepsake for the long-run. This is a precious heirloom and deserves to be treated as such. Years of storage will damage the material at the fold lines and create permanent faded and ragged creases. Open, unprotected display will cause the material to rot and it will also start to shred.

I'm sure if you contacted the Smithsonian, they can direct you to a company that can evaluate the current condition of the quilt and what to do to prevent deterioration in the future. It will come at a price, but for this treasured work it would be worth every penny spent.

I would be very proud to display this in my home as it bears no resemblance to the original Nazi flag. It was a true labor of love and is your children's family history. I would also make sure there was a written narrative of the history behind the quilt and a biography of the people who's names are on the quilt and of the woman who made it.

I'm not a sentimentalist by nature, but something that precious I don't believe I could part with. If you wanted to "share" this with the public and not lose posession of it, work out a program that you could present in a special assembly at your local schools, boy scouts, girl scouts, etc, that would display the quilt, tell the history behind it, and work in how an article so reviled by the world was turned into something so lovely. You love to act, Ami, so this would not be that big of a stretch for you! Just think of how proud all of Scott's family would be if you did something like that?

And that's my $.02 worth.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Ami-

I personally would look for a specialist in material/cloth preservation to find out how to properly treat/store/display this keepsake for the long-run. This is a precious heirloom and deserves to be treated as such. Years of storage will damage the material at the fold lines and create permanent faded and ragged creases. Open, unprotected display will cause the material to rot and it will also start to shred.

I'm sure if you contacted the Smithsonian, they can direct you to a company that can evaluate the current condition of the quilt and what to do to prevent deterioration in the future. It will come at a price, but for this treasured work it would be worth every penny spent.

I would be very proud to display this in my home as it bears no resemblance to the original Nazi flag. It was a true labor of love and is your children's family history. I would also make sure there was a written narrative of the history behind the quilt and a biography of the people who's names are on the quilt and of the woman who made it.

I'm not a sentimentalist by nature, but something that precious I don't believe I could part with. If you wanted to "share" this with the public and not lose posession of it, work out a program that you could present in a special assembly at your local schools, boy scouts, girl scouts, etc, that would display the quilt, tell the history behind it, and work in how an article so reviled by the world was turned into something so lovely. You love to act, Ami, so this would not be that big of a stretch for you! Just think of how proud all of Scott's family would be if you did something like that?

And that's my $.02 worth.

Debbie,

You always have a way of getting to the heart of something and knowing just what to do. This is it! EXACTLY what I need to do! You have given me a project and a vision and a way to teach about what was probably the most dispicable inhumane act this world has ever faced. At the same time paying tribute to Scott's Grandfather, a man I adored utterly. Your insight is truly amazing. Thank you.

I will discuss this with all my Jewish friends. I will even show them what I have written before I go public in order to get insight and their blessing. I have been to discussions and presentations by Holocost survivors and I know what an open sore this still is. An atrocity of this magnitude is not easily healed. Maybe, just maybe, I can help in my own small insignificant way by raising awareness. Wounds don't heal by covering them up....they just turn into scars.

My next step will be to find out the best way to store and care for this flag/quilt. This should be easy because it just so happens that in college I dated a young history buff who is now the curator of the Smithsonian. I think he'd be more than happy to help me out on this. For pure interest in this time period if nothing else!

I am psyched now!!! I needed a little more purpose in my life
Now to research and write!