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Dear Sisters,
Join the journey today! No need to catch up--just start your reading and writing today!
This week
Read: Alma 5, 11-12, and Our Heritage, pages 59-67 (see attached PDF in the email)
Write: Alma 5 has been our stake theme this year. Choose a verse from Alma 5 and write a reflection on its meaning to you.
A huge thank you to Jen Winterton, of the Washington Park ward, for sharing her personal history with us.
I have never met my great-grandfather, but I am grateful for the life he lived and the example he set for me. He was a man of integrity. I have always felt a particular closeness to him and remember asking my mom over and over again to tell me stories about him when I was little.
He was a man who made great sacrifices to do what was right--no matter the cost. I've read somewhere that heroes evolve, they aren't born. A heroic moment in my great grandpa's life was merely the product of many small choices he made. One of my favorite stories of his heroism occurred during WWI.
My great grandpa Lou joined the Marines in 1918 and was away from home for several years. During the war, my grandpa fought in the Battle of Belleau Wood, which was renamed "Bois de la Brigade de Marine" (Wood of the Marine Brigade) in honor of the Marines' tenacity. The 4th Brigade was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (Cross of War)--a cross of military valor--in part because of a brave act of my great grandfather.
At one point during this battle, my great grandfather was with his division in the woods. From where they were situated, they could see that a French company was walking into a death trap. If they continued their present course, they would be surrounded by Germans on all sides and their escape route would be cut off from behind. Grandpa was concerned and requested his commanding officer for permission to get to them and warn them. It was denied. His commanding officer said that he couldn't ask anyone to go through enemy lines to send the message; it would be suicide. Grandpa Lou disobeyed orders and sneaked out anyway. He got through to the French, let them know where the German troops were, and thus saved the whole company. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre from the French for his bravery.
Because of his integrity and sheer grit, he went against the better judgment of his commander in order to save the lives of the French company. This story has always meant a lot to me and I try to live my life in such a way that would make my great grandpa proud of me.
-Jen Winterton
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