North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Mar 2

One thing that is always heavy on my mind is the memory of people. I don't believe in forgotten people, but it is so hard to keep people alive. Years lead to decades which lead to generations. Soon people become but a name on a tombstone, if that; and this bothers me.

Every person is a gift to this world.

I have always been one to take many pictures and many videos. I took pictures of Kelli regularly when she wasn't looking, and I am faithful about documenting myself with pictures. In fact, some day when my laptop is opened; much will be learned about Kelli, myself, and others. I have pictures saved at home, on the road, and in a safety deposit box. I hope digital media weathers the test of time.

Kelli doesn't have any children. She only has one brother. She has one neice, Sarah.  She has one grand neice who was born last month, and she has one grand nephew that was born just before she passed away. Without my videos, Kelli may quickly drift away to be a forgotten personality. I know her grand neice and nephew will one day know her name. Her bother and sister-in-law and Sarah will ensure that. But the videos will help them know her personality.

Today I went to the North Africa America Cemetery and Memorial in Tunisia.

I wish there was some way that I could make the people named on those tombstones talk and tell about their journey in life.

2841 Us military personnel from World War II lie at rest there, and 3724 names of missing persons are memorialized on a wall of tablets. All of those individuals died within the North Africa region during WW II.

It would be great if one could bring forth a video that would be reflective of each individual's smiles, laughters, desires, dreams, hopes and fears. It saddens me that, although we can love each name for the gift that they gave to their country, we cannot get to know each individual that gave those lives.

While at the cemetery, I decided that I want to display one name on my facebook wall. I chose a woman since most of my facebook friends are women.


I searched the "Wall of the Missing" and found Bonnie L Williams. Bonnie was a private first class from Kansas. Bonnie was a member of the Women's Army Corp. On the internet I found that she died when her military transport aircraft crashed off of the Ivory Coast of Africa on May 30, 1945. Seventeen additional women and three additional crew members died at sea. Their bodies were never recovered.

Bonnie, I accept the sacrifice of your life as a gift to this world; but I wish I knew more about your other gifts and talents. Did you dance? If so, someway, somehow, dance your spirit around North Africa and around the USA one time for me and my friends.

And to my Facebook friends, put your camera on record! We have this technology. Let the future know our personalities,  and let them know we were a gift to this world!