Singing and More
The adults went up to their room that night still in awe of all Georg had told them. Franz and Max had a conversation.
"Max, I never thought the Germans would come this far across the Atlantic Ocean."
"Me either. Thank goodness we live miles away from the coast. I'm sure Georg will continue to help the navy anyway he can."
"I know he will."
Both men now had trouble falling asleep; they couldn't get Georg's incredible story out of their mind.
In the master suite, it was the same for Maria. "Georg, it really frightens me to think Germans could be lurking anywhere."
And Georg responded as Max had. "Remember, we are miles from the East Coast and that the Navy Yard is inland. There's little chance a German U-boat could travel it without being noticed."
But Georg did remember what Admiral Jessup had told him. Germans had been found living in New York City and in Washington DC.
"Maria, I'll be working for the navy from an office in the Navy Yard. My job will be to suggest ways America can protect its coast."
"I know you're happy about using your skills for our new country."
"I am. But now I want to put all that out of our mind with our marital activity."
"I'm your wiling wife."
Afterwards the couple fell into a deep sleep. And they slept longer than usual because today was Saturday. It made Maria move with haste for the bathroom when she woke. And Georg lay there wondering if the children would ask him about his trip. He was really hoping they wouldn't.
Maria stopped his wondering by speaking. "I don't why but I'm really hungry this morning."
"Our baby must be growing. You can go down and feed him. I'll be down as soon as I dress."
Maria smiled that Georg had given the baby a sex; she didn't mind. She was hoping for a boy too. And Katia wasn't surprised at her request. She gave her a hot out of the oven biscuit. And watched her consume it without butter or jam.
"Georg told me our baby made me hungry. I feel better now. Now I'll fix my tea."
And now Georg joined her and the other adults followed and Max told them. "The children are awake."
"That's fine. The oatmeal is cooked."
"And we'll go take our seats, Katia. I'm sure Kurt is extra hungry this morning."
It wasn't only Kurt who was hungry. The other children agreed with him. And after Father Wasner said the blessing, the group ate in silence. Their bowls were empty and every biscuit was eaten.
And now Friedrich spoke. "Father, you never told us about your trip."
"Hearing about your schools was more important. First of all, I'll tell you about the submarine. It was twice as big as mine and went twice as fast. We arrived off the coast of North Carolina in the middle of the night.
"That state has several small islands off its coast. We rode a dingy to one of the larger islands. I was surprised how many people lived on it. It had everything one could need, a post office, a store, and a nice schoolhouse. It was there I met a young girl.
"She was your age Louisa. She rode her pony bareback."
"Bareback?" Louisa questioned.
"It means she doesn't use a saddle. His name is Sailor. And she has the cutest little Boxer dog I've ever seen. He goes everywhere with her. And the admiral and I met with the town's officials and helped them with their concerns about the Germans."
Georg hadn't expected this from Friedrich. "Why Father? We're far away from Europe."
He had to think fast. "Remember, the Germans have a navy."
"Did they follow us here?"
"No. They've been playing havoc with the ships America is sending to England long before we arrived. And remember, I went to Washington DC with Admiral Jessup to get permission to use more money to defend these islands.
"And no submarine could enter the passageway to the Navy Yard without being detected. The navy has destroyers protecting its entrance."
Maria knew she had to speak. "I wholeheartedly believe God led us here. He has plans for us. Your singing is the gift God gave you; it will be used to comfort and inspire others.
"Max, have you discovered an opportunity for them to sing?"
"As a matter of fact, I have. America has set aside a day in November to honor all the men who had been in the military. Everything closes, banks, most shops and your schools. The Navy Yard will have a ceremony that day. I made arrangements for you to sing there. Is that alright, Georg?"
"It certainly is. Do they need to learn any special songs?"
"As a matter of fact, they do. Father Wasner will you help them learn them?"
"Of course I will Max. I assume you have the music."
"I do. Right here in the music book I bought. We should prepare three or four of them; none are very long."
"Can we begin after dinner?"
"I like your enthusiasm, Brigitta."
Max had already selected the songs the children would learn. They would be these; the song America, sometimes referred to by its first line of verse, My Country 'tis of Thee, America the Beautiful as well as the song, You're a Grand Old Flag.
While they began to learn these songs, the month of September had passed. And October began with all the signs of autumn. The leaves on the trees had changed to vibrate colors of, red, orange and yellow. It also became sweater weather. They would be shed for a couple of weeks when the temperature would moderate and be almost like summer. And the entire family attended many of the high school's football games during the month.
And the date to honor the military men, November eleventh, was a cool but sunny day. The family took a city bus to the Navy Yard. It stopped in front of the Commandant's home.
Already assembled there were military men from the Army, the Navy and Coast Guard. Their combined bands were practicing. Max exited the bus first. He was greeted by the navy officer in charge of the ceremony.
He was told. "The children will sit on the risers for the ceremony. And you can sit on the front row with all the others in attendance."
"Very well, let me tell them."
Max did tell them. And Liesl asked. "Are there other groups singing?"
"There aren't; only a soloist who will sing the country's national anthem. The bands will play while all the military men march in."
And the parents and the others took seats so they could see the children. In fifteen minutes a military man with ribbons and medals on his uniform jacket came to the microphone.
"President Roosevelt has prepared a statement for today, Armistice Day. It says:
The call to serve our country started at Lexington and Concord.
They took up arms to free themselves from the oppression of the British Crown.
And sadly, years later, we took up arms against our own during the Civil War.
Our nation healed it wounds when it was forced to defend itself against forces
who were threatening the boundaries of our nation during the Great War.
We have sacrificed many for preserving this great country of ours which has
given us the ability to live the lives we were meant to live.
With heavy hearts we pause a moment in silence to remember the lives which
have been lost.
A lone bugler put his lips to his instrument and played the song known to all military families as Taps.
And Max knew that at the end of this song he would stand and with his arms instruct the children to stand.
They did. And when Max gave them the note on his pitch-pipe they began to sing, America the Beautiful, then America and finally, You're a Grand Old Flag. And the ceremony concluded with the bands playing and the soloist singing The Star Spangled Banner, the United States' national song. The bands continued to play while all the military men left.
And now the officer who conducted the program came down to speak to Georg. "I was told about the group of seven children who would sing today; they were outstanding. You need to be commended for allowing them to sing."
"You're very kind but the person you should thank is my wife, Maria. She discovered their talent."
He did and Maria wouldn't take all the credit. "Sir, I will always believe they have God given talent. Talent they inherited from their father and mother. I happened to be the one who helped them discover their talent."
"You know they could be one of the groups who sing at Wanamaker's Department Store every weekend in December."
"A friend of ours told us about that store; he actually encouraged us to visit it during the month of December."
"Your family won't be disappointed; it's fabulous. And other stores also have their display windows decorated."
The two military men departed after firm handshakes. And Max was waiting by the bus which would take everyone home. It was boisterous ride home. Now the children had something else to look forward to, Christmas.
Maria was looking forward to visiting with a baby doctor. She had questions about the increasing size of her baby sac. Isabel Isenhart had given her the name of a doctor. His office wasn't far from their home. Maria had stopped in one day and made an appointment.