HAPPY THANKGSGIVING TO ALL!!
November 25th, 2009 | 11:32 am
Paul Mellon, the great American art patron and son of Andrew Mellon, who donated to the nation the funds required to build our National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., once said: “What this nation needs is a good 5 minute respite”. I think he was suggesting we slow down a bit, take a deep breath, pause to reflect, and perhaps even be thankful for all we have that is good. Thanksgiving may be the best of all holidays to allow ourselves just such a moment.
I have so much for which to be thankful. What follows are some of the more immediate things that come to mind:
The opportunity to have spent almost 4 hours with Lane Faison before he died…
Discovering Monuments woman Mary Regan Quessenberry and having the chance to spend so much time with her this fall…she is one of the more remarkable people I’ve ever met…
Having the time and resources to travel around the country the last 4 years visiting with the Monuments Men and women and their families, and developing with them a special bond of friendship from my work to tell their story and preserve their legacy…
Developing such a close relationship with the great folks at the National World War II Museum, in particular director Dr. Nick Mueller. Their enthusiasm about the importance of the story of the Monuments Men and eagerness to work with the Monuments Men Foundation has been a most welcome development…
Being of good health…
Having had such great parents, both of whom had the opportunity to be a part of my work to find and honor the Monuments Men…
Having such a wonderful son whose very voice brings a smile and laughter to each day…
Being surrounded with such dedicated people at the Monuments Men Foundation office who care so deeply about these Monuments Men and women, their stories, and in making sure their accomplishments are known to all…
For having such an extraordinary group of friends, diverse in their thought and ways, spread around the world, but all only a call away, each ever present in my heart…
And finally, being of good spirit and attitude, filled with passion for all things meaningful in my life…my passion is the source of my endless reserve of energy, creativity, and love.
To all…have a great Thanksgiving!!!
Tags: Andrew Mellon, D.C., Family, Lane Faison, Monuments Men, Monuments Men Foundatin, National World War II Museum, Parents, Thanksgiving Day, Thanskgiving, Washington
Any body who knows about the activities of an organisation called “HADEGA” to whome pictures and other art work were handed to be auctioned during the wat please contact me .
Very interesting and amusing subject. I read with great pleasure.
Dear Mr. Edsel,
A year ago, I believe, I saw your documentary “The Rape of Europa” at the Angelika. I am currently a resident of Dallas, but grew up bilingually under a German mother and an American father. I have always been deeply troubled and bifurcated between love and shame in regard to my motherland. I hold a PhD in German language and literature from Rice University, and have been teaching German at St. John’s Episcopal School, a private school on the east side of White Rock Lake, for the past 21 years. Your project of returning stolen works of art to their rightful owners is very much intriguing to me, and I plan to purchase a copy of “The Monuments Men” for myself this Christmas season to pursue the subject in greater depth.
In case you should not speak German and ever have any translation of German documents that needs to be completed, I would like to offer my services to the cause. With best wishes (belatedly) for a blessed Thanksgiving and an equally joyous and prospeerous Christmas and New Year, I remain Sylvia Venable
Added to my favourites list and added to my blogroll.
Thanks. Yet an additional nice site post, this is exactly the reason why My spouse and I returned to all your blog site quite often..