Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of articles written by Culea Abraham, a 2008 graduate of Pea Ridge High School, and a senior at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo. She is the daughter of Russ and Lisa Abraham of Pea Ridge.

She traveled to World War II sites in Europe as one of 20 CofO students with 10 American World War II veterans to learn more about patriotism.

Nuremberg

NUREMBERG, Germany - Our last stop on our trip was in Nuremberg, Germany.

Most of the men and women veterans in our group weren’t actually in Nuremberg at all, but we went to see the places where it all ended. While in Nuremberg, we saw the courthouse where the notorious Nuremberg Trials were held. Our tour guide, Jason, told us about the Nazi leaders who were put on trial in this building and their fates. Before we moved on, we pulled out, one last time, the 48-star flag and took a picture of it flying in front of the house of justice for World War II.

Nuremberg, not only known for the Nuremberg Trials, but it is also known for its own breed of sausages. These sausages are called wiener schnitzels.

They are about as long as a pinkie finger and they are delicious. We ate some for lunch before going on to see buildings that Hitler and the Nazi party had brought up. I think of the whole trip, that was my favorite food we ate.

After we ate a few wiener schnitzels, which were only served in even numbers of four or above, we headed over to the Zeplinfield Arena. The Zeplinfield Arena was a huge, empty field where Hitler gave some of his most famous speeches.

Our tour guide told us that all of the places that Hitlerhad built were in a position where the sun would shine directly on Hitler as he gave speeches. The Nazi party wanted the sun to always shine on Hitler because he would be the emperor of the world.

Next, we headed over to the Nazi Congress Center.

This building was modeled after the Colosseum in Rome. They never completely finished it, because war broke out. The reason they modeled it after the Colosseum was not just because it is a mark of victory, but also because the Nazi party believed under their leader that Germany could have a 1,000-year reign like the reign of the Roman Empire. The building didn’t really look much like the actual Colosseum, but it didn’t have to look identical in their opinion because their empire was going to be a more successful empire than that of the Romans.

Lastly, we headed over to the Lopoli Arena. There is a famous picture of Hitler with a man on either side of him taken at this arena.

Here we found the exact spot where Hitler stood in that picture. Nuremberg did not reserve spots such as this for historical sake.

After the trials, the townspeople felt as if they had a black mark on their fair city. They did not want to be remembered for what Hitler had done in their city and so they helped to get rid of these places which had been tainted by his presence. The path to the spot where he stood in that picture had been moved to become a path around it. The now empty pathway was turned into a park and while we were there people were sunbathing on blankets (as I said before, the sun always shines on Hitler).

A final thought

Through our whole journey along this war path, we saw and learned many things in Europe. One thing we all agreed was very important was how much respect Europeans pay to those who fought in World War II. At least three times during our journey, I sawa European come to our veterans and thank them for his service. The reason, I suppose, that they respect these heroes more because we never really saw the war enter our homes or hear the bombs landing in our backyard or see the enemy on our streets.

It isn’t as real to us as Americans as it was to those who still are repairing their land from the damages. I ask you to please, next time you see a veteran, whether from World War II, Vietnam, Korea or whatever, that you tell them how much it means to you that they gave everything that they did.

After all, if it weren’t forthose who served and those who died, we most likelywouldn’t have the freedoms we have in America.

Area, Pages 12 on 03/16/2011