My world travelling partner and I just returned from 19 days in Spain followed by a now traditional family gathering for Thanksgiving at our home.  In addition to the Ohio River men, I have found other heroes who move me.

The  image left is important to me.  Our Spanish Civil War guide in Madrid, Dr David Mathieson, took the photo on 3 Nov 2018.  We were walking the frontline of the siege of Madrid which began on 17 Jul 1936.   Installed on the University Campus, the  pillar is the only monument in Madrid dedicated to the International Brigades that served in the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939.  There the  Civil War is a raw wound still.  Franco is revered and hated to like degree.  For many years, I have been a big fan of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade composed of approx 3,000 Americans volunteers who fought Franco fascism before fighting fascism was fashionable.  American heroes who on their return to the US were persecuted for years after the war by the Hoover led FBI.  More than 800 volunteers from the Abraham Lincoln Brigade died in Spain.  I felt proud standing by their modest monument after 80 years of too little attention. 

Hemmingway in Madrid (Nov 2018)

Of less merit I confess that we also searched out the taverns, bars, and hotels that Ernest Hemmingway supported when he was a war correspondent. Tipped a beer or a glass of cava to him in several sites in both Madrid and Barcelona.   Today Hemmingway’s reports would be decried as “fake news”  and his reputation denigrated because his professional judgement was not in tune with the political thoughts of the leaders of our government of the day.         

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