America
In the morning two parents lay awake in their glittery, glamorous cabin. They were both smiling.
"I expected them to wake early but not this early. I don't see even a glint of sun coming in our small window. It's a good thing it's only us and our friends who have cabins on this passageway."
"They're excited Georg. I'll dress and take them to one of their rooms."
"And I'll hurry to join you."
By the time Maria was dressed the children's voices were louder. She quickly opened the cabin's door.
"Mama, we couldn't sleep any longer."
"So you decided to wake your papa and me."
Even in the dim light of the passageway she could see their mischievous grins. And then she heard an adult voice.
"You even woke your Uncle Max."
The children had the same grin for him. And in a matter of moments, Georg appeared along with all the other adults. And from the far end of the passageway, a young man was approaching.
"I suspected you would wake early."
"Good morning Peter. Is there coffee and juice available at this early hour?"
"There is and breakfast will be ready soon."
The entire group followed him to the glamorous restaurant at the other end of the promenade. There they found others who were also anxious to arrive in America. And they were joined by many of the Jewish children and their mothers whom they had met before.
When breakfast was over, Peter and Paul, another steward, took all of them to the large lounge on this deck. Peter was the spokesman.
"Everyone here will be traveling to the same location in America. I believe that will make all of the children very happy."
"Peter that is good news. My brothers, sisters and I have already made friends with them." Liesl said.
This news also made the adults very happy. They had become friends with their mothers. Here in the lounge, there was almost bedlam as the children began to speak to the others. Maria and Georg overheard Gretl.
"Sarah, Rebecca, we're going to live together. You are my best friends."
And then Marta found her friend. "Elizabeth, I'm so happy you will be near us in America."
And the couple sought out the girls' mothers. "Meriam and Naomi, I think you know how pleased Georg and I are that our youngest girls have made friends with your daughters."
"We're pleased too, Maria. Our girls smile more and they haven't cried since they met them."
"You, know, Meriam, God has blessed all of us. We are part of His larger plan. He will announce it in a still calm voice. All we need to do is pause each day and listen for His call."
"Your faith amazes both of us. In fact, your story is remarkable."
"And I must give Maria all the credit. It was her voice, singing a song I knew, which helped lift my yoke of grief."
"That was the beginning, Georg. God then watched as we both found the life of our destiny."
The adults didn't notice that all of their children were standing near them.
"Papa, Peter and Paul have things planned for us to do this morning."
"She right, Georg. We'll keep them busy until about ten o'clock. They will have an hour to prepare to leave the ship. Lunch will available at eleven. I've been told the ship is on-time and will be at the dock by noon."
"Good to hear. We adults will find things to do. None of us can deny the fact we're also anxious to arrive in America."
Everyone did find things to do. And the morning passed quickly. Georg and Maria returned to their cabin. Most of their things were already packed. They added their nightwear, closed their bag and sat it near the door. Georg noticed Maria let out a heavy sigh.
She immediately told him its meaning. "Georg, although I believe all that has happened to us had God's handprint all over it, I still find it overwhelming."
Georg embraced his wife. "I can't deny the same. What surprised me more than anything was the way the children mingled and made friends. I'm sure you realize they hadn't been around many children who weren't relatives."
"Yes, I do know. The two who surprised both of us the most were Marta and Gretl."
"You are correct. Now before we hear those boisterous voices, let's share one final kiss in the privacy of our cabin."
Neither wanted to release the other after their romantic kiss but the sound of voices made them do so.
"Maria, you should go to the younger girls' room while I attend to the boys. I may be awhile. Something tells me their room is a mess."
They departed their room for the children's rooms. Maria found Brigitta already checking their room. "Is everything packed?"
"I think so, Mama. Maybe you should look around to see if I missed anything."
Maria did look around. "You did a good job, Brigitta. I don't see a thing being left. I'll put your bags by the door. I need to check on your sisters, your papa is doing the same in the boys' room."
"We'll wait in the hall."
Maria found Liesl and Louisa's room neat and tidy. Their bags were already by the door. They joined the others in hall.
Georg did find the boys' room as he had expected, a mess. Clothes were everywhere. It took him much longer to put everything in their bags. He didn't reprimand them. He knew they had been spoiled by the maids when they were small. It didn't take him very long to pack everything. Still they were the last to join the others in the passageway.
Once again many stewards came to carry their bags. They made a procession to the bridge; Georg was in the lead; Franz was last. They arrived as the last rope was tossed to the dock and pulled tight around a mooring peg. The ship was now secure for deboarding. They watched as the bridge connected the ship to American soil.
Captain Charlie had hurried from the Wheelhouse. He was there to welcome all of the passengers to America. Although there were Americans among the passengers, they too were grateful to be home. Many had feared the Germans might block them from leaving.
The von Trapp group was first in line to leave the ship. Captain Charlie spoke to Georg.
"As soon as you enter the building in front of you, Dulles' assistant will be there to escort you to the busses which will be your next form of transportation."
"And once again, Charlie, I thank you for our safe arrival. If you ever have a chance, I hope you will visit us sometime. I'm sure you will learn where we will be living."
"You have my word."
Georg took Maria's hand and together they walked across the bridge to America. And it was as Charlie had told him. Maria whispered an exclamation.
"Look Georg, he's a man of the cloth."
"I see he is."
This man of the cloth spoke. "I was told my contact was Maximillian Detweiler."
"That's me sir." Max raised his hand as the people in front of him stepped to the side to allow him passage.
The man extended his hand as Max got closer. Their handshake was firm.
"I'm Everly. Even here in America I don't use my last name. I understand my cousin in Bern Switzerland has been working through you to bring out many Jewish people from Germany. And that now you have brought America's Department of Defense a distinguished naval officer."
"You are correct, sir. Please meet the decorated Austrian Navy Captain, Georg von Trapp."
The two men shook hands as Everly spoke. "I bid you, your family and our Jewish friends a heartfelt welcome the United States. We are immediately going to board busses which will take you to the State of Virginia. You will be there a few days while all your homes are readied. Follow me please."
"Papa, can our friends sit with us?"
"Liesl, I'm not sure there's enough room."
Stefan spoke up. "All of us adults will ride in the second bus. We don't mind."
So Katia, Isabel, Phillip and the other adults rode in that bus. The von Trapp bus was full with many of their new Jewish friends.
Meriam and Naomi had heard him as well. Their daughters immediately took their mama's hand and they joined Maria who was standing there taking it all in. In a few minutes all three busses were loaded with people, luggage and trunks and soon the drivers drove them away from the dock.
After leaving the dock, the drivers traveled on several rather narrow streets before turning onto a road which would take them out of the city of Philadelphia. They continued south.
The scenery was nice to look at. There were still flowers in bloom and the trees hadn't begun to change colors. But soon they became bored. It was Liesl who suggested.
"Let's sing to pass the time."
Max thought it was an excellent idea. He stood and directed them to sing many of their concert songs. And then reminded them, "after we are settled, we will go on a tour; the people here want to hear you and enjoy your music."
Maria added. "After we do that, all of you need to be enrolled in school."
She heard moans mostly from her children. "Now stop moaning, you know you need to go to school."
"Mama, we know we do. We wonder if we are prepared for their schools."
"Liesl, I have a feeling all of you will do just fine. Schools everywhere teach the same things, language skills, reading, writing, mathematics, sciences and history."
Everly added. "She's right, children. I was easily able to be admitted to one of America's best universities, Princeton. And I believe we are almost at our destination."
"You are correct." Everyone heard from the bus driver. "In another mile or so I will turn onto a long driveway leading to your temporary residence."
In a moment everyone saw the extra-large white brick home with four large columns supporting a portico. What they didn't see was the rest of the building. Everly told them about the mansion they were gazing at.
"This was once belonged to one of America's Presidents, President Madison. It was bought by a wealthy American who enlarged it to fifty-five rooms. Most of them were bedrooms. He also added a stable, a racetrack and a steeplechase course. It was used by the United States Equestrian team to train for the Olympics.
"I gained permission to use it as a temporary home for immigrants. In a few days you will be taken to your permanent homes."
The door on all the busses opened and everyone saw attendants from the house arrive to bring their luggage and trunks there. No one was picky about their bedroom; they knew they would only be there a few days. The banquet room had more than enough tables for them to eat their meals together.
Everly stayed with them. He and Maria had more than one conversation. On one occasion they shared their stories of finding God's plan for them.
Everly told Maria. "By the time I entered one of the United States' most prestigious universities I had lost my belief in God."
And Maria told him. "I was worse. Many of the people at my university denied God even existed. I was like the people in the Pied Piper story, I willingly believed the same. God led me to a retreat center for women where my mind was changed and where I met Georg.
"He had come to the adjoining monastery after his wife died. God had us meet in the garden the men and the women shared. Strange as it may sound, it was our singing which brought us together. In a few days he knew he had to go to his children who had been taken from their home by his brother. They hadn't been told their mother had died. He now felt God's presence in his heart and was ready to tell them. But first he asked me to come with him and become the governess for his children.
"After speaking with my Directress, Sister Margareta, I agreed to go with him. And from then on God has directed our lives."
"My revelation was different, Maria. It wasn't a person God spoke through; it was the world He had created. I had stepped out of a building into a rainy day and saw a tree beginning to flower; after gazing on it I never again doubted the existence of an all-good and omnipotent God.
"This God led me to the church. In a few years I knew my destiny. I became a Jesuit Priest. And when Dulles asked me to help him fulfill Christ's teachings about helping those affected by the evil in the world, I willing accepted the call."
Those minutes of conversation were interrupted by two little girls, Gretl and Rebecca. "Mama, we need you sing with us. Everyone wants to hear the Climb Every Mountain song like we sang it at the Festival."
"I'll follow you Maria; I'd like to hear it too."
And so they did. They found Liesl at the piano waiting for her. Those who would be living with the von Trapp family were all there. They weren't disappointed. The complements were numerous.
Over the next three days, the children played together, sang together and ate together. And Everly received word that their homes were waiting for them. He didn't go with them; he felt there was one more group of people who would stay in the big mansion.
All the busses arrived to return to homes in a suburb of Philadelphia. And Georg and all the military men learned they would be assigned to the Navy Yard there.
And Max kept his promise, The von Trapp Family Singers, did go on a short tour in the nearby states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and the United States Capital, Washington, D.C. Their concerts brought standing ovations from the audience at each location.
When they returned, the military men began their assignments at the Navy Yard and the all the children were enrolled in public school. And as Maria had suspected, each was well prepared for the grade-level to which they were assigned. Max was hired by a performing choir as its director. The routine of living in America had begun.
The homes of all their friends were within walking distance. Their Jewish friends were always at the von Trapp home; it had a large backyard and an extra-large living room. And soon new friends came there too.
One Sunday at church they had a big surprise. Father Joseph introduced his assistant; before them stood Father Stephan. No one could prevent expressions of both shock and relief from being spoken.
Each wanted to hear the other's story. Georg invited him to have lunch with them. He came to their home after the last Mass of the day was said.
He told them. "I had to leave. Herr Zeller told the Germans I had helped you leave. Your contact in Bern provided me passage on the last ship leaving for America."
Georg told him. "I mentioned you to Max. He must have told Dulles. I'll tell him you have arrived when he returns from his new group's tour."
And Father Stephan heard their story and listened to them perform their concert. He concluded his visit.
"From that first Sunday when I heard you singing all the hymns, I thought God had a purpose for your gift. And you have used that gift to bring God's grace to all people. I look forward to hearing you in church every Sunday."
After he had left, Maria had these words for her family.
"Our God never fails us. The gift of singing brought us together. Before Everly left us I told him our story Georg. I don't ever want us to forget it. God was present the day you heard me sing. And God is still present. He's right here in our midst. We will continue to believe that. As the prayer of Chichester says, they will know us by the love which is in each of us.
"The world may grow dark as evil tries to overcome that love. We must remember what is written by the Apostle Paul in First Corinthians. Among other things he wrote: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
"And he concluded that chapter by writing. The greatest gift God gave us was love.
"And now we go forth to live our lives, in the country to which He has brought us, with love deep in our being. It will be as the song I taught you on our travel from Vienna; we don't hide our love; we are each a lit candle for all the world to see and may everyone some day also be a brightly lit candle and flood the world with God's light of love. This we must believe."
A loud exclamation from the entire group followed, AMEN! A word which means, so be it, was their way of agreeing with Maria. And now they were ready to show the world God's Love.