Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 24.04.2008 (Article Archived on 08.05.2008)

In the last week, I have spent many hours tramping around the areas where the US Military had their encampments during World War II. The more I uncover about the time that the Americans spent here during those years, the more fascinating the story becomes. And the more I find or figure out, the more I want to know.

On Friday afternoon, I managed to make my way to the Grotto area.  I have been doing the services here for over five years now, and only had a vague idea that there were encampments in the area.  It was a step back in time to walk around the area and see the smoothed out spots where tents must have stood.  There are clearly delineated paths as well.  It is an exercise of the imagination to stand at a clearing at the end of a path, and wonder what once stood there.  Was it a soldier’s barracks, a communications tent, or something else?  Odd little bits of metal and wood dot the area, but what were they part of back then?

It is also an exercise in humility.  To think of all the men who camped out around there, and on Donkey Plain and near the airfield.  To realize what it must have been like for them to go about their daily activities and tasks, part of a world wide effort to protect freedom.  We manage living on a remote island so well because we have fast planes, good mail service, internet and email capabilities, and even better, telephone communication with our loved ones.

Back then the island had almost no greenery, except on Green Mountain.  As much as our conservation folks and hikers curse the acacia tress, at least they provide some colour and brighten up the unending lava fields.  Look around and imagine that none of these trees were here.  How much more desolate would this island seem?  Still beautiful, in its weird and unique way, but even more barren. 

Researching the history of the Americans on Ascension, especially in WWII, has really driven home to me how much we have to be thankful for.  Each and every one of the military men on Ascension at that time contributed to the success of the war effort, and to the protection of this island.  They were helped by the British and St. Helenians already here.  Each and every man and woman was a cornerstone, a precious cornerstone like that mentioned in the second reading by St. Peter.  No one knew how important each was, but history has told the story.  We owe all the island inhabitants from that time a debt of gratitude. 

So this week, if you get an opportunity, take a step out of this time, and step back into the past.   Imagine what it was like back then.  And say a prayer of thanks to all those who sacrificed for us; all those who were the cornerstones that our modern world was built on.  May God bless all of them, and all of us here on Ascension.