Robert Edsel's Blog

Today, The Monuments Men Year-End Newsletter for 2009 was released to the general public. Inside this newsletter, you can read about the various creative content we have produce, our ongoing engagement with the public through the media to bring much need attention to the Monuments Men, the various honors bestowed upon the Monuments Men Foundation, and all the incredible memories bringing this story to life.  Many thanks to all that have worked on this project through the years.

Please take a minute to read the The Monuments Men Year-End Newsletter.

If you would like to sign up for future newsletters, please click here (fill out form on the right side to submit).

Merry Christmas to all! Below is the Christmas menu that the 3rd army enjoyed in France in 1944, 65 years ago. We hope that everyone enjoys this holiday season and we look forward to continue the work of the Monuments Men in 2010.

Click Image to Enlarge

On December 21, 1941, directors from the great museums in America joined at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City for a historic meeting. In the aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, these cultural leaders realized that it was time to take action. Their initial concerns focused on the safety of American museums – would they be prepared for an attack on their own cities? Other logistical problems were a concern as well. In Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts had closed the Japanese galleries out of fear of angry mobs. The Met was closing at dusk to prevent visitors from running into things in the event of a blackout.

At the meeting, Paul Sachs issued a resolution, stating:

“If, in time of peace, our museums and art galleries are important to the community, in time of war they are doubly valuable. For then, when the petty and the trivial fall way and we are face to face with final and lasting values, we… must summon to our defense all our intellectual and spiritual resources. We must guard jealously all we have inherited from a long past, all we are capable of creating in a trying present, and all we are determined to preserve in a foreseeable future. Art is the imperishable and dynamic expression of these aims. It is, and always has been, the visible evidence of the activity of free minds.”

In hindsight, we know that a further attack on American soil never occurred. However, this meeting had lasting effects: it served as the birthplace of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section. After the Met meeting, Monuments Man George Stout and Harvard Professor Paul Sachs continued to reach out to museum leaders to develop a plan of action for when the Allies would inevitably arrive in Europe, for it had become obvious that it was the cultural treasures of Europe, not America, that would need protection. The Monuments Men were the embodiment the eloquent words Sachs spoke in December 1941.

With veteran John Pistone during our first visit

Today the Monuments Men Foundation announced the discovery of an album containing photographs of Hitler’s most beloved works of art by German painters destined for his Führermuseum in Linz, Austria.  This item, formally called the Gemaldegalerie Linz Album XIII, was taken by an American soldier from Hitler’s home in Berchtesgaden in early May, 1945.  The veteran, Mr. John Pistone, in a wonderful act of grace, has worked with the Monuments Men Foundation to identify what the album was and it’s return to Germany.

For the full story please click on the link to the Associated Press story. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_hitler_s_album)

Today’s news was extraordinarily well received.  In fact, it was the most popular, most viewed and most emailed news article on Yahoo! today.  I hope and believe that this news, and the example set by Mr. Pistone, will bring the much needed visibility to our efforts to finish the mission of the Monuments Men and assist others who may be in the possession of items “liberated” or stolen during the World War ll period.

US Army Generals Omar Bradley, Dwight Eisenhower, and George S. Patton

On the morning of December 8, 1944, General George S. Patton called his Third Army Chaplain, Msgr. James H. O’Neill. “This is General Patton; do you have a good prayer for weather? We must do something about those rains if we are to win the war.” Third Army had been fighting in terrible rain since September and Patton had become desperate.

The prayer Chaplain O’Neill wrote became famously known as the “Weather Prayer.”

Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.

On the back was a Christmas Greeting from Patton to his troops – 250,000 copies were dispersed.

To each officer and soldier in the Third United States Army, I Wish a Merry Christmas. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We march in our might to complete victory. May God’s blessings rest upon each of you on this Christmas Day. G.S. Patton, Jr, Lieutenant General, Commanding, Third United States Army.

The Weather Prayer didn’t work right away, but no doubt gave the troops, including Monuments Man Robert Posey, some hope.

We set aside two days a year to honor our Veterans:  Memorial Day and Veterans Day.  But other days of the year border on such importance…today is one of them.  More than 2,400 men and women were killed on this date 68 years ago as they innocently went about their duty and lives that Sunday morning.  It was a dastardly act by Japan and it’s warlords as they sought to knock out the Pacific fleet of the United States in one swift blow.  Within days the United States was at war with Japan and its allies, Nazi Germany and Italy.  World War II  had begun in earnest.

Less than three weeks later a meeting would take place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City that would have far reaching implications.  Visionary leaders such as George Stout, Paul Sachs, and Francis Henry Taylor, expressed concern about protecting this country’s cultural treasures from concerns about a Japanese invasion of the west coast and Nazi bombings on the east coast.  In time these specific fears subsided but were replaced with an even greater concern:  how to protect the cultural treasures of the western world from the path of war that inevitably would lead to the doors of the Reichschancellery in Berlin.

Fortunately we live in a world today that was spared the “what if” consequences of the Monuments Men never having been created. We can visit the world’s great museums and see the vast majority of the greatest accomplishments of man’s creative genius because of their vision and sacrifices.  Pearl Harbor set them into motion.

So on this day, let us remember the brave men and women who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor. May we also acknowledge those who acted and set in motion one of the most benevolent efforts in the history of mankind, an effort that preserved much of the accumulated art, music, and culture produced by thousands of years of civilization, from the path of war:  the Monuments Men and women.

Jack Reiss at Alabama Booksmith Book Store

I spent the day in Birmingham, Alabama signing books and delivery a lecture at the Birmingham Museum.  It was a lunchtime event which is usually pretty difficult for people to attend. Not so today: more than 150 people enthusiastically appeared, full of great questions and comments.  At each such event I’m reminded of how special the story of the Monuments Men truly is.

My day began at Alabama Booksmith Book Store where I signed more than 400 books for store owner Jake Reiss.   What a book store!  Most all of his books are first editions signed by the author!  I bought two books myself!

Jake has developed some very innovative ways to promote his business and stay ahead of the rapidly changing buying patterns of his customers.  He is so enthusiastic about books AND HIS CUSTOMERS!  It is a joy to be in his store.  And wonderful to have been so welcomed by the citizens of this great southern city!

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!!!

Perhaps no greater speech has ever been delivered on a somber put critically important occasion as President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. This speech, numbering no more than 269 words, perfectly captured the moment and brought honor to the fallen soldiers of the North and South and the respective ideals which they were fighting to preserve.

One of the great experiences of visiting Washington, D.C. is to stop by the Lincoln Memorial and re-read these words etched in stone on the north wall near the magnificent sculpture of the President… which now oversees the World War II Memorial.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate…we can not consecrate…we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

I’m in New Orleans today on behalf of the Monuments Men and the Monuments Men Foundation at the dedication ceremony of the new expansion space of the National World War ll Museum.  Hosts Tom Brokaw and Tom Hanks are among thousands of others here honoring the sacrifice of so many millions of Americans who experienced—and won—the greatest war in history.  As many of the speakers have commented, we can never thank them enough.  As the son of a World War ll veteran of the Pacific, an 18 year old marine at the time, I know firsthand the truth of this sentiment.

Last evening I attended a black tie dinner at which Tom Brokaw made moving remarks about how important this Museum has become in his life.  He said that writing his book, The Greatest Generation, was the most meaningful and important achievement of his professional career. Don’t I know…I feel the same about my role in working with the Monuments Men. It is an honor, a privilege.

Today we witnessed many beautiful scenes such as the entry of the color guard, and even more moving, the entry parade of the World War ll veterans, grouped by service–first the Army, then Marines, Navy, Army Air Corp, and Coast Guard.  16 members of the Tuskegee Air Corps are present.  Medal recipients abound.  It is so humbling to be in the presence of all these great heroes.