All Internet drama aside for now, I would like to take some time to say a few words about a great man whom I was very privileged to know. The man’s name was Ellsworth Gray Collier. He was my girlfriend’s grandfather, and I met him nearly ten years ago. During those ten years, I came to find out that he had been a radio operator in World War II, where he traversed and survived the Burma Road. He worked for Brown and Williamson Tobacco for over thirty years. He volunteered with his local Rescue Squad, as well the Special Police force.
He was a very likable man, who was always fun to talk to. He was born in August of 1922, and unlike most people I have met of his generation, I could talk about work I had done with electronics, and he was able to understand every word I said. Toward the end of last year, my girlfriend and I sat down with him, microphone in hand, and just got him talking. We asked him questions about his time overseas, his life here, his family, his friends.
Mr. Collier passed away June 2nd. I am proud to say that I was able to see him a few days before that, and be part of the group of his friends and family who were there to give him comfort in his final days. The funeral was today, and though it was a beautiful service, it was still a bit difficult for me to get through. I was fine until the Ft. Lee Honor Guard played “Taps”. I have been honored to have known a true hero, someone who helped in the colossal fight against evil in World War II. It is a gross understatement to say that he will be missed.
So, now it is time for me to distill those recordings down to CD-size, as I did with my own grandmother’s interviews a few years ago. The volume will be boosted and normalized. Any background noise will be filtered out. Any long pauses and silences will be cut. And when I have finished, there will be something for all of us to keep of him. His voice, recorded digitally, will echo throughout time. At least, that’s my vision of how it will happen. For now, the main thing is this: we, his friends and family, will be able to keep this little part of him alive, through his stories, told in his own voice. Surf Wisely.