Restless Wings

Recent conversations with Don Gray and Brian Romano have caused me to put the pen down and to pause and answer questions not often asked but rather thought of in the wee hours of the morning…

I began my search over three years ago, standing alone facing the daunting task of trying to learn about an individual who was a part of my family, long forgotten due to the passage of time, his story fading like the last golden rays of the sun as it dips below the cold, dark horizon. Wesley was on the verge of being lost forever, never having the opportunity to tell his tale to a future wife or family. Leaving no marker, it was as if he had never walked amongst men, his footsteps leaving no mark.

I clearly remember one day in July that a thought came to me which was the spark that ignited a flame, the catalyst that caused a tremendous reaction and brought me into his memories. Little did I realize at the time, that his story would never be forgotten and that I was embarking on a journey of discovery that most only read about and very few experience.

The goal of my project has always been that of discovery. Discovery of a family member who fascinated my imagination, discovery of a time that I could never experience and, perhaps, discovery as to who I was and my own mortality.

Coupled with this sense of discovery was a sense of urgency. As a farmer works the field and uses every last ray of sunlight in order to accomplish his task at hand, I too realized that time was not on my side. Due to the inevitable passage of time, the ever growing shadows of the mind and the desire of society to rid itself of everything old and antiquated, I realized that time was precious. This was the final hour and the time to discover was now for tomorrow may come with winds sweeping clean the passage of time, an imposing enemy set upon preventing me from searching for those faint footprints left over sixty years ago by a man I have never even met.

During the development of Restless Wings and the project, I wonder frequently as to why I was called to complete this final flight. I found my answer recently when I was speaking with Brian as to how I was finding the time and maintaining such dedication in order to undertake such a project. I explained the sense of urgency but as for the ‘why’, well…I can only surmise that our generation is called on bearing witness to those who came before us. We are the individuals who are responsible for preserving memories, for how many of those who come after us in our families will step up and take interest and do what we are doing? I believe that within a few moments, time will hide all and only regrets will remain unless we achieve our missions.

We are the path finders lighting the drop zone for others who come after us and desire to build upon what it is we have firmly established by example and process. We are the sole instruments by which they communicate their thoughts, words and heroic deeds to us. Some are speaking to us now, others have spoken before and there are those who are willing to speak and have not yet spoken. We bear a tremendous responsibility and honor to precisely record history, be it our own family history or the history of another’s. How can we not accept such an honorable task? This is our way of saying thank you for the sacrifices made, loves lost over sixty years ago. While I cannot bear a weapon and rid the world of tyranny like so many brave men who came before me, I can bear witness to their deeds and bring that awareness to my daughter and her children one day. Failing to do so, would be a heartbreak too much to bear. When you hear their restless whispers, how can you ignore them calling you forth? In our hectic daily lives, stop and pause one day and see if you too, can hear them calling you.

The burning desire for discovery, the realization of the sense of urgency and the acknowledgement and acceptance of one’s call to duty to preserve his or her family history is the simple formula for completing such an involved project. To date, I have not only learned about a man with whom I possessed no knowledge of but I have learned about other families, made eternal friendships and experienced many wonderful aspects of establishing Restless Wings. My terrestrial search set out to find one man and a missing B-24, I was ignorant in thinking that this was my sole mission. Reaching the windswept heights, I now look down and see how many lives have been affected by what the Restless Wings team has achieved. We have answered many questions that time almost hid from our prying eyes, we have brought together families and friends with a bond that will last until the end of time, we have brought back the voices of those who can no longer speak and we tell their tale to the world with pride while remaining in the shadow of humility. Perhaps one day, when we too, will slip the surly bonds of earth and dance the skies on laughter-silvered wings, may we find those for whom we searched for so long, traversing the ages. It is my hope that they will acknowledge what we have accomplished with nodding approval.

For those of you who are deciding whether or not to heed your own calling in bearing witness to the men and women in your family who have served in past and present conflicts, I challenge you to accept. I challenge you to face the sunset, using its last rays of light to uncover truths that have lain hidden. I challenge you to bear the responsibility for preserving the memories that can escape so easily from one’s grasp, like a wisp of a vapor trail fading in flight. For if you accept these challenges, you will reap untold rewards and perhaps, this may be the most amazing achievement that you will accomplish in this life. For when you soar to the high untrespassed sanctity of space, you will put out your hand and touch the lives of all those who come after you and perhaps, you may just receive a smiling nod from the one for whom you have searched for so long.

For now, we look to morning for tomorrow is the dawning of a new day. Who knows what may arrive at first light.

C. Corwin
January 2006