My words can hardly do these two stories justice so I will simply allow the videos below to speak for themselves...
Today I offer two different stories of lost and found. One stems from the horrors of World War II and the other from the tragedy of the Sudan. My words can hardly do these two stories justice so I will simply allow the videos below to speak for themselves...
Nicole Gauthier Period 3
3/18/2014 09:42:26 am
These videos are powerful, beautiful, and undeniable proof of the power of hope. The strength of these people is remarkable and illustrates that if you have hope and perseverance, you have the ability to overcome any challenge. Moreover, love truly does not come stronger than Mrs. Harris, who never gave up looking for her husband and decided to remain loyal to him for the rest of her life. Although the widow does not hold a grudge, the congressman who dismissed her note and decided to return a letter without actually looking for correct information is unfortunate. America may be years in the future, but the great and honorable generation of Americans who fought in the horrors of World War II should always be respected and esteemed. I have had the pleasure of interviewing a veteran who crashed his plane in Normandy and became a prisoner of war on a boat before being released to the United States after the war. Words cannot describe the humility, kindness, and bravery of the man I met. Simply stated, regardless of time period, America’s veterans should always be commanded with respect.
Anneliese period
3/19/2014 06:02:03 am
These videos are truly inspiring. Mrs. Harris staying loyal to her husband and trying to find him for years is bittersweet, but encouraging to those still looking for their loved ones. I think that although the congressman may have been busy, he should have taken the time to help her. The strength of Amira Ali and her daughter Tina through their separation from each other is also inspiring. It's amazing that Amira's sister was alive, and had raised Tina while she was thought to be dead. Hopefully all of the people in these inspiring stories will continue to be happy.
Adoria
3/19/2014 06:30:25 am
Both of these videos are very inspiring. First it shows us that there are some good uses to Facebook other than cyber bullying. I completely agree with both of the comments above. Mrs. Harris's story was completely amazing. The fact that she had spent nearly 60 years looking for her husband and when she finally gets to see where he is I think that is amazing. And regardless when it was, Veterans should always be remembered. Getting to the second video, the strength that Amira had spending about 20 years mourning over her daughters loss was heartbreaking. But when we heard that her daughter sent her a friend request over Facebook shows us you can do stuff on social media with out being rude or a bully
Claire Beauregard
3/19/2014 06:59:17 am
These two videos gave me so much hope! Sure, there have been rough patches in my life, but they are truly nothing compared to these two stories. They are incredible. These two stories seem like something straight out of a movie. The fact that Mrs. Harris waited for him and said "He was married to me for the rest of his life, I will stay married to him for the rest of my life" was so cute and it made me happy to see that people will do that for the person they love. Also, Amira and Tina showed the positive side to technology! I am so happy for Amira and Tina and the rest of their family and I am happy that Tina was found after all of these years!
Mary Mullane Per 1
3/19/2014 09:29:42 am
Both of these videos are so powerful! It is hard to believe that they both happened it real life; it almost seems like both experiences would have happened in a movie or in a book. While watching the World War II video, I was getting very frustrated because it seemed as though people didn't want Mrs. Harris to know her husband died. It was like they were trying to keep the tragedy away from her. But when she finally got closure, I could see in her face that the weight was lifted off her shoulders and she was finally free from that distress. What the congressman did was so wrong and unfair. He should be ashamed of himself for not taking a situation like this as serious as it should have been taken. But the story that really touched me was the one about the mother and her daughter. What surprised me the most is that Amira found Tina through Facebook; a website that CAUSES tragedies in many peoples' cases with cyber-bullying and thing like that. But in this case, it was a life-changer. I can't imagine how Amira must have felt when she saw the message from her daughter. As Claire said, this video gave me so much hope that anything is possible even if you think there is no way to find the answer, or there is no way to get through it. There is a way. And I pray for Aggie, Tina, and Amira.
Noah Chauvin Period 2
3/19/2014 10:43:26 am
Both of these videos are filled with hope. Both of these people were waiting for years to know were their loved ones were until now. I couldn't imagine having lost a loved one and not being able to find them or were they were buried or if they were alive or missing. I am very glad that they found out the truth what happened to their loved ones.
Ryan Agnew Period 1
3/20/2014 10:39:07 am
The second video was truly incredible. I can't even begin to imagine how happy that mother was feeling when she saw her daughter again. Especially after thinking she was killed. I also can't believe that this happened all through facebook. It's incredible how much we can do today using the power of social media. But of all the places I find it amazing how facebook was the place where she found her daughter.
Kaitlyn Pereira Period 1
3/21/2014 01:07:43 am
These videos really make you think how much we take life for granted. These stories were truly inspiring. Mrs. Harris' story was defiantly a tear jerker. To know that she waited for him everyday to come home shows true love. To not know where your husband, or family member, is very scary. The emotions she must of felt must have been incredible. Everyday she had to live with the burden of not knowing where her husband was and where he was buried. To feel relief after all these years must have felt bittersweet. To know that this town praises him must even give her more joy. Yes, he is dead, but knowing that he saved many lives, and became a hero, must have still felt pretty good. My dad was in the military. He used to call everyday and when he didn't, things ran through my family and I's minds. It's scary when someone goes out to war. I can't imagine my dad disappearing forever. My heat truly goes out to her.
Bryana Mullin period 1
3/21/2014 01:13:22 am
These two videos give me a lot of hope. It is amazing that Amira found Tina after all these year and that she found her through Facebook. I cannot imagine how happy she must have been to finally have her daughter safe at home and to know that she is alive and well. In the first video, I cannot believe that no one told Mrs. Haris that her husband was dead and buried in a cemetery in Normandy. She had no clue where he was for 60 years that must of been hard. Not knowing if he was alive, dead, where he was buried, or if he was missing.I cannot imagine not knowing if anyone if my family was dead or alive or not knowing where they are. But these two videos give me hope that if anything like that ever happens there is a way I can find them.
Ana Alvarez
3/21/2014 02:55:25 am
I think that this is an amazing thing that has happened to these people. Even though it has taken a long time to figure out that her daughters are actually alive and that this woman has finally found her husbands grave is amazing. Mostly finding out that he has a street names after him and that people look at him as a hero is absolutely amazing.
Katelyn Martino Period 1
3/21/2014 04:27:45 am
Both of these videos have made me realize how grateful I should be about everything I have that I am not always grateful for. Watching these videos has filled me with lots of hope. It is truly amazing how happy she must have been after seeing her daughter again after such a long time apart, I ant even begin to image that happening to me.
Andrew Allen Period 5
3/21/2014 07:15:50 am
What a beautiful story of loyalty and dedication by Peggy. I can't even imagine how hard and heart wrenching it must have been experiencing every day with question as to whether her husband was alive somewhere or killed in action. It must have been amazing for her to find a group of people who are almost as loving to Billie as she is. Hopefully now she has at least a small bit of closure knowing what really happened to him in the war and that she isn't the only one who honors him. It is unfortunate that war brings upon not only violence and death, but the prolonged and even eternal separation of loved ones such as Billie and Peggy. Billie and many others made the ultimate sacrifice and should never be forgotten.
Chelsea Lavallee Period 1
3/21/2014 10:15:58 am
These videos filled me with hope and made me feel grateful for the people I have in my life. I think we take people, friends and family, for granted because we assume they will always be there, but you never know what could happen. The situation in the second video with Amira gives me more hope. It shows that even when things seem dark, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. What I do not understand though is that if her two daughters were alive, why would they not contact the police or someone to try to find their parents so they could be reunited sooner rather than just going on with their lives alone making their mother grieve? Regardless, it's wonderful that the mother finally got to be reunited and catch up with her daughters. I can't even imagine how she must have felt when she saw that her daughters were alive and well. It just proves the power of social media. It's insane to think that if Amira hadn't joined Facebook she may have lived the rest of her life still thinking she lost her daughters for good. The first video, Paggie's situation, showed me never to lose hope and to never stop trying. I'm glad that she found closure before she eventually passes away. Although it must have been awful to know that her husband was dead, having that closure must have been wonderful, and it must also have been great to know that he was not still missing, his body left out to rot somewhere because no one could find him. It is also amazing how dedicated those citizens were to celebrating him. That is so heartwarming to see how grateful and kind they are and it is nice to know that Billie did not die in vain, and he died a hero. This situation did frustrate me though when it came to the congressman. People like that should not have any power whatsoever if they are inconsiderate people who can't even find the time to check to see if a poor woman's husband was still alive. It would have taken a short time for him to check, and it was unfair to keep Mrs. Harris waiting just because he was lazy or didn't care. People like him make me question how good the human race really is, but people like the citizens in that city who did so much to praise Billie after his death give me faith in humanity.
Jacob Zuller
3/21/2014 11:15:58 am
These two videos just make my heart ache but at the same time great. How this women was so dedicated to her man just makes me remember that America is a great place and has good people. Yes Mrs. Harris had doubt he would never come back but the day he came back, she felt great I bet always having hope that he would come back. Struggles can be overcome and this is proven.
Griffin Doyle Period 1
3/22/2014 01:42:57 am
These videos are truly amazing! I am so glad that Mrs. Harris and Amira Ali had ended up with good news and were not left with questions of what happened to their loved ones. I believe that Mrs. Harris definitely deserved to know what had happened to her husband, years before she finally did but at least he died doing something so heroic. The fact that Normandy honors her husband by having a street named after him, must mean so much to Peggy. It is also wonderful that Amira was reunited with her sister and daughter she thought were dead. She must feel such relief and joy to know they're alive and she's probably cherishing the time she has with them now. The heartbreak that occurred in both Sudan and World War II is unimaginable but it's heartwarming to know that these stories ended positively.
Victoria Piperata
3/22/2014 02:45:45 am
Everyone is commenting the same line "these videos gave me hope". When I watched the videos for the first time, I cried. i cried at the two happy endings, the heart wrenching stories. All I could think of was those years in between. Where the widow sat and waited, just looking for an answer. It disgusts me that she was lied to and overlooked. And the mother, who thought she lost her daughter forever. Her daughter. No parent should out live their child, and in her case she had no time to grieve. She picked up and moved on with her other children. She worked through the pain, and gave her family a better life. Hope does not come near to just how powerful the messages were. These stories have made me view the world in a new light.
Evan Period 3
3/22/2014 05:44:29 am
I think that for the Sudan story, that it is just amazing. It brings up many emotions when you see a friend that you haven't seen in a couple years, but if i lost my mother and saw her again after 20 years, I don't think i would be able to describe the emotions that would be going through me at that moment. Also, for a parent who thinks she lost her child to find out she is all grown up and ok would probably make me feel like i could lift up a building, stories like these tug on the heart strings.
Patrick Mascoli- Period 3
3/22/2014 06:25:55 am
Both of these stories are incredible. I find the one about Sudan to be the most amazing video. To think that this mother thought her child was murdered only to be reunited 20 years later is astonishing. I can not fathom the voluminous amount of emotions that they must have been feeling. I think that both these stories are some of the most heartwarming stories that i have heard in recent memory.
Ashley swindell per 4
3/22/2014 07:46:47 am
These videos are a perfect example of never giving up or losing hope. I also think that the story with the mother and daughter the most amazing story. I mean to find your daughter you thought was murdered through Facebook is so sad but had a happy ending.
Alexa Annotti P.3
3/22/2014 10:13:32 am
These videos defnitely made me smile. I felt so happy for the mother who was finally reunited with her daughter and sister and was glad that Mrs.Harris was finally able to receive closure. But at the same time, they don't fill me with hope like everyone is saying. I mean I feel some while looking at how they were reunited, but think of the circumstances that caused them to be in the situation in the first place. The mother and daughter were separated and the mother thought her daughter dead. That definitely weighed on her for years. Then Mrs.Harris, loses her husband in the war and doesn't get a straight answer about his death for years. Like those situations are horrendous. To think, there are many stories out there similar to these but they don't have the happy ending. The few happy endings do give some people a glimmer of hope though and I won't deny that both videos made me emotional.
Michelle Lee Period 3
3/22/2014 10:14:08 am
Tears came to my eyes as I watched these videos. No words or documentary can describe the yearning Mrs. Harris felt all her life as she waited for news about her husband or the feeling of despair Amira Ali felt when she loss her daughters. These videos display an immense picture of just how powerful the emotions of love and hope can run through a person's heart and mind. The endings provide a sense of closure that is so indescribably incredible. After so many years of mourning, I can't begin to imagine Mrs. Harris's thoughts and emotions as she finally received the truth about her husband's death and discovered his memorial site, or when Amira Ali saw her daughters for the first time in 20 years after believing that they were dead. It shows how fragile life can really be. These stories show that behind all the ugliness that the world can bring, beauty can be rediscovered; that no matter how dark it can get, a light can always be found. The stories of Mrs. Harris and Amira Ali are truly so amazing and beautiful, I cannot effectively describe how powerful these stories are in my words.
Taryn Stringfellow Period 4
3/22/2014 10:48:29 am
I think that these stories are so emotional. I dont know what i would do if i lost a family memeber and meet them later in life. I wouldnt know what to say or what to do. So knowing that people go through this is crazy!
Ellen McDonnell pd 3
3/22/2014 11:42:58 am
This story is heartwarming and was a tear jerker when I first saw it in class on Monday. Stories like this are just so inspiring and make you realize how great a place the world can be. It is inspiring how strong that a person could be to stay hopeful for so long and finally be reunited. Today I met a man who had been diagnosed with a disease for four years. For four years he thought he was slowly dying, but this morning when he went to the doctors he recieved the good news that he had been misdiagnosed and is healthy. It is amazing how life can change so quickly, whether it be finding a loved one after being torn apart by war for years, or finding out
Jessica Russo period 5
3/22/2014 11:42:59 am
Both of these stories are truly inspiring. Mrs.Harris had hope and never gave up until she knew what had happened. It is crazy that no one ever told her what had happened. However it is good that she now has closure. The other video is also inspiring. It must be an amazing feeling to find out that your daughter is still alive and that you get to see her again. Both of these videos were very touching.
Ellen McDonnell
3/22/2014 11:44:45 am
you are healthy after years of not knowing. These kind of stories give me hope and show that after all things can work out.
Kelsey Rafferty Period 4
3/22/2014 12:06:41 pm
These videos are so heartwarming. In the video with the mother thought she lost her daughter and then found her on Facebook I probably would have cried if that was me. It shows that not all some media isn't that bad. The intentions for Facebook at first or to bring family and friends closer together and in this case it actually did.
Mikaila Simmons period 4
3/22/2014 12:07:17 pm
Both of these stories are really inspiring. How Mrs. Harris spent 60 years looking for her husband and never lost hope shows just how strong some people are. And like some of the comments above stated that there is some good uses for Facebook. I couldn't imagine how Amira must have felt when she saw her daughter online. Missing 30 years of your own daughters life must have been extremely hard especially when you thought she was dead. Another great part is how she was raised by her aunt! She wasn't left alone she had some one she knew taking care of her. These stories literally brought tears to my eyes. I had to fight the urge in class to cry when I first saw these videos.
Hannah Bouressa period 1
3/22/2014 12:56:06 pm
These two videos are so moving. Both of these videos showing someone who is searching for a loved one. The second video really inspired to never give up even if you assume the worst has happened. I cannot imagine the feeling Amira and her daughter held once they saw each other after being split up for so long. These videos contain a lot of hope and very inspiring to those who take the time to watch and listen to their stories.
Joseph Tocco Period 1
3/22/2014 01:04:45 pm
Wow. This shows that in the world, there is hope, love, and help. The story about the WW11 fighter and his wife is truly heartbreaking. To find out where her husband was after decades was relieving and amazing and to know that he is admired today and is a recognized name is just amazing. I send all my prayers to him and his wife.
Rebecca Pasquarelli Period 3
3/22/2014 01:37:33 pm
These videos are beautiful and give hope to all who have lost somebody. I find it amazing that both of these women were able to find out where their loved ones have been after all these years. I could not imagine how I would feel in either of their places.
Jin zhang Period 3
3/22/2014 01:52:31 pm
These two stories were truly heartwarming and made me tear up a bit while watching the videos. It's great that these people were able to find their loved one(s) after such a long time. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering that they have gone through while being so unsure where their loved one(s) was/were and whether they were alive. The first video, concerning the widow and her deceased husband was especially inspirational. It is amazing how the lady was able to forgive those who left her questions unanswered when they were so easy to find...and lied about it. I would have been enraged if I was her to find that the government did not see the importance of bringing closure to the family of an individual who died for that country!
Dashawn Howland pd 5
4/3/2014 11:19:54 pm
these stories are very very sad. I think that both of the videos are very inspiring. They give you a sense of hope and happiness. I can only image the amount of plain both of these people have went to. The amount a heart ace these people went through for the lost love ones. I am very happy that they were able to be reunited but sad that is was so long time apart from each other.
Moira Sharon-Period 5
4/7/2014 03:38:25 am
These videos were truly inspiring. Although one ended in death and one in life they are both powerful and filled with hope. To not know if a loved one is out there waiting or if they died long ago is a terrible burden but seeing how both women stayed hopeful is beautiful and inspiring. The first story I felt was just incredible, although Billie may be dead it's comforting to know that he saved lives before his death and was a beloved hero for all these years. Comments are closed.
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