As a diarist, the image of my journals going up in flames makes me cringe. But that’s what happened accidentally to George Patton, son of the iconic Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.
In the June 2008 Smithsonian magazine, Gen. Patton’s grandson, Benjamin, writes about his father’s angst after he lost his diaries: “For General Patton’s Family, Recovered Ground: Famed World War II Gen. George S. Patton’s Grandson Finds His Calling in the Ashes of His Father’s Journals”.
In the article, Benjamin Patton interweaves hopes and expectations shared by three generations of Pattons. One of those expectations was that Ben would join the military like his forbears. To the disappointment of his father, he chose a different path – that of filmmaker and film educator. Benjamin shares how this happened, and why many of his productions now relate to family histories – and veterans.
Says Ben, “Every family has a story, and every member’s story is worth preserving – certainly for the living family, but even more so for future generations….The key is to start now, whether with a tape recorder or video camera.”
And to that I would add, “Or a keyboard – or even paper and pen.”
~ Jennifer Sauers