Peace and Freedom

My family and I spent the 4th of July week at Pickerel Lake staying in a cabin, fishing, being on the water, being with family and friends, and enjoying fireworks.  While we were here, we met a man who has experienced more than anyone could ever experience in their lifetime.  

This man was an 80 year old man who's name was Claus.  Claus came from Germany and carries an interesting story.  When Claus was 10 years old, a Nazi soldier came to his families door, asked if Claus was there, and took him to a Hitler youth camp to be a Youth Nazi.  Claus and many other 10 year old boys gathered at this camp and cried for a week because they missed their families.  The young boys were handed a gun and began training to become Nazi soldiers and to learn everything that Hitler had wanted his empire to become.  

One day towards the end of the war, Claus had seen Eisenhower and his army coming to "rescue him" by trying to destroy Hitler's empire.  Claus had seen all of this happen right before his eyes and told himself that one day he wanted to be like Eisenhower.  After the war was over, Claus went back to his home where the Nazi soldier had come to take him and found his house to be nonexistent and his parents living in a fox hole.  This is when Claus decided that he would move to the United States.  

Claus had a family member who lived in Salem, SD and that family member was willing to take Claus in and sponsor him.  At 19, Claus made his move to the United States.  Knowing no English, this was a very hard time.  After moving to the United States, Claus served in the Korean War under his Commander in Chief, who he had seen not too many years earlier, Eisenhower.  Claus created a great life for himself and his family, and still goes back to Germany every two years to visit his family.  The part that struck me with this man was when he pointed out his American Flag.

Claus flies his American Flag every single day because it is the only flag in the entire world that stands for Peace and Freedom.  When Claus lived in Germany there was no such thing as Peace and Freedom.  Living in the United States, you are given Peace and Freedom every single day of your life.  It is something that us as Americans take for granted because we know no different. Claus had become a youth Nazi at age 10, found his house destroyed and his family gone.  Claus never knew peace and freedom until he came to the United States.  It really made me think about what I have and how lucky I am to have what I have.  

Farm Girl Tip # 98: Do you appreciate what you have?  Peace and freedom. I am proud to say that I am an American!