The Silver Ring

GOLM CEMETERY

The ride from Franfurt was uneventful. The land was  mostly flat. The village we would be heading to was Kamminke. It was on the island of Usedom. The cemetery had been active since 1919. Recently, many of the burials were troops killed during World War II, and  their bodies recently discovered.

There was a sort of hostel at the cemetery. There was an education center, and people came to study about history and hopefully learn to live with each other in peace.

We were directed to a building on the grounds. It was really quite nice, trees in bloom. Dark crosses on a sea of green grass. Some of the crosses had the names of soldiers inscribed on them. There were walls with names and units as well. We parked the car, and entered the building.

There was an assembly room. There was an honor guard of soldiers. The casket was draped in the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany. Two men approached our group. One was a military chaplain, the other an official at the cemetery. They greeted us, and gave us an idea of what would be happening.

The family would be standing on one side of the casket. The chaplain at the head of the casket would say prayers. The song Eine Karamaden would be played as the casket was placed on a vehicle to take it to the grave site There the casket would be lowered into the grave. An official from the Army would give a citation to the next of kin (Katrin).

The official said that he wanted to introduce us to the family first. We approached the group and Katrin, the next of  kin was at the beginning of the line. She was a dignified looking woman in her 80's. I could still see the resemblance to the young girl I had met in Dresden so many years before.

She asked, which member of the group had actually discovered her brother's body. I was pointed out, and asked to come forward. Katrin extended her hand to me. I took her hand and held it. She looked in my eyes and began to cry. Danke, Danke, she said. I have waited for this peace, this closure for more than 70 years. I can go in peace now. Now Mother, a man standing next to her replied. I don't  think you are going anywhere immediately. Katrin, who has a very fair complexion began to flush. "I am too rude", she said. I need to introduce you to my family.

She took me by the arm and led my down the line of family members. My son, who you just heard, is Rolf. Next, she said, is my daughter Marta. Fritz, she said is Rolf's son. He has three children (my great grandchildren)-a girl and two boys. This is Monika, she is the oldest, and as you can see Mattias, she is very beautiful. She is 18 years old, and will be entering university in the fall. Her brothers are standing next to her, Ubert is 13 and Willi is 11. They all shook hands.

Katrin was right, Monika was beautiful. I was trying not to stare, but my eyes kept wandering back to Monika.

Prayers were said, the honor guard took the casket and put  it on the vehicle taking  it to the grave. We all walked slowly behind. We stopped at a really beautiful spot. There was a large tree giving off shade, and very peaceful place. A fresh grave had been dug. Once again, prayers were said. The cemetery official gave Katrin some official looking documents. Katrin said to us, please join us for something to eat. We are having a small reception here at the hostel. There is a private dining room where we can eat and get to know each other better.

The military had a vehicle standing by the take the mourners to the hostel. Katrin waved them off. I still can do this on my own. Taking  her cane in hand we began the short walk back. Once again, I kept looking around for Monika.

A large table was set up in the dining room. Katrin sat at the head of the table. She motioned for me to sit at her right. She also directed Monika to sit across from me, on her left. The other members of the team sat with the other members of the family.

Food was brought out and we began to partake of it. Katrin turned  to me and said, I have something I would like to show  you. She reached into her purse and brought out an old photograph. Please look at this she said. You see my brother in this photo. It was taken by a friend, Helmut, on the train from Dresden to the front. It is the only picture I have of my brother. Several  years after the War, Helmut tracked me down. He said he was with Curt on the train and he had taken pictures. One of them was with Curt. The other man, she said, was a friend of Curt's. Actually, Curt had just met him. I seem to remember, he, the friend, had come from the east, and was trying to get back to his unit. Curt was going to help him. Helmut said, he was there when Curt was shot. The other man was there too. Helmut wanted to get the other man and himself out of the area. He said, I think Curt was dead, but there was so much confusion. Even after the war, I could not really remember. I hear it said, one can repress memory, Katrin volunteered. Anyway, this is the only photograph. She held it in her hands and looked at it lovingly. She said, Mattias, you look so much like the other man, Curt's friend in the photograph. It is very ironic, isn't it. I stammered, it was.

In the meantime Monika was taking all this in. When her great grandmother was finished she smiled and looked at me. She stood for a moment and put her arms around Katrin. In a few moments she sat again.

There was something about this girl. I had never had a reaction like this in my life. Monika became my sole focus. I had to keep bringing myself back to reality. I cleared my throat, and began, Monika, I  understand you will begin university soon. Ja, she replied. Where are you going? I will be attending Humbolt University in Berlin. Are you studying for a particular field. She replied that she was looking at this point for a liberal arts education. She would decide on a field of study after the first two years.

I asked Katrin for her phone number so that I could call  her. She seemed very pleased about this. Monika, I gathered up my courage. I would like your  phone number too. She smiled and wrote the number on a piece of paper and gave it to me.

When the meal was completed. The team and I stood  up. We shook hands with the family. Leaving the hall, we found our van and headed back to Frankfort. We had not gone very far when Karp began chanting, earth to matt, earth to matt. What, I said. They all looked at each other and began to laugh. Carole spoke for the group. Matt, she said, you couldn't keep your eyes off Monika. You seemed to be in another dimension. I didn't realize I had been that obvious. I guess I began to blush, and they all had quite a laugh. Leo continued, it looks like Matt has a girlfriend. I tried to be cool, yeah she is beautiful, but girlfriend, you are nuts. Once again they all laughed. I guess I was not very convincing.

We continued to talk and before you know it, we were back at the hotel in Frankfurt. The leader of all the teams met us. I hope you had a good time, he said, you will have to do twice the work tomorrow because this day was lost. We only have about three more weeks to work before we end for the year.

I had not realized how fast the summer had gone. In about three weeks I would return to the United States and Monika would be entering university here. How could I work this out. I have just met with woman of my dreams, and I am going to have to leave her.

After dinner, I returned to my room. I'll admit I was feeling pretty down, but that was not going to last for long.