(Robert M. Edsel presenting Dr. Kenneth Lindsay with an American flag that was distributed to each of the living Monuments Men at the Senate Ceremony following passage of joint Congressional Resolutions.)

Monuments Man Ken Lindsay died on Monday, age 89. A distinguished veteran, outstanding educator of art and loving father and husband, Ken will be remembered most for his instrumental role in the recovery and return of tens of thousands works of art stolen by the Nazis during World War ll. Some of the world’s greatest cultural treasures were caringly watched over by him from his post-war position at the Wiesbaden Collecting Point including the ancient wonder, Bust of Queen Nefertiti and Manet’s In the Conservatory.

(Sgt. Kenneth Lindsay gazing at the ancient Egyptian Bust of Queen Nefertiti)	American GIs admire In the Conservatory, a masterpiece by Edouard Manet.	In the Conservatory by Edouard Manet. (Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.)

Ken was beloved by his students. Just two days ago, while speaking at the State Department, I met a man named Owen Pell who introduced himself to me as one of Ken’s biggest fans. We each exchanged our favorite "Ken Lindsay story" which was tough to do if you knew Ken: there are so many!

This man was one of the great story tellers I’ve known. His manner of speech, elocution, and facial expressions made any story riveting. He was not just an eyewitness to one of the most fascinating periods in history, he was also a key participant…the end of World War ll, post-war Munich, the Nuremburg trials, and of course his particular work as a Monuments Man in Wiesbaden working with such greats as fellow Monuments Men Walter Farmer, Joe Kelleher and Edith Standen. His insights into the events of the Wiesbaden Manifesto were riveting…and I’m proud to say something we got on film for future audiences to see.

(Dr. Kenneth Lindsay being interviewed by Robert M. Edsel in October, 2007)

These great men and women of the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives section performed a service to civilization that will stand forever as the greatest demonstration of love of the arts and selfless sacrifice in their protection. Time spent in their company is an experience to treasure. Representing them is an honor. We will miss Ken — his great humor, wisdom and positive attitude — so much.

(Dr. Kenneth Lindsay)

(The Rose Art Museum)

Times are tough. Many people and institutions considered “invulnerable” are struggling to survive. Most everyone is considering ways to adjust to our new economic times. But what the heck are the people at Brandeis University thinking to announce that they are closing their university art museum — the Rose Art Museum — and selling the more than 6,000 works of art in its collection to make ends meet? Have we so digressed as a society that we’re going to cannibalize culture? Rather, we should be doing everything possible to find ways to PROTECT culture in such times as it is one of the few things that sooths our souls amidst the all too often depressing news with which we are bombarded daily.

Last year I spoke to a very bright group of graduate students — both law and art majors — who asked excellent questions at the end of my lecture. One was predictable: “If you were in our position, finishing graduate school, what would you do differently than we’re doing? My reply: “Take a year off, travel around the world, learn a language, see how the world lives, visit museums and cathedrals and experience a world unfamiliar to you…in short, get a great real world liberal arts education.” I immediately heard several people say in unison: “But we’d be behind if we did that…”, to which I replied, “No, you’ll be ahead.” I was trying to make a point based on my life experiences which was this: no matter how rich, healthy or lucky you are, life finds all of us. By the time we’re 50 years old, half the marriages will have failed at least once; most of us will have lost at least one parent and perhaps both, maybe even a close friend or sibling; we’ll have personal setbacks of unknown types; perhaps we have a great job but we find ourselves correctly observing that there must be more to life than just work and making money; or perhaps we are dissatisfied with work and our career and it is misery leaving us asking ourselves about what to do with the remaining years of our lives. And the one thing from my vantage point that adds some sanity to all this, that sooths MY soul, that comforts me and inspires me and reminds me that the world is much bigger than me and my problems is art….a moving piece of music…a painting that sweeps me off my feet…reading something inspirational such as Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address or General Eisenhower’s Guild Hall speech in London after the end of the war. These and more help remind me that tomorrow won’t seem so bad; they help bring into focus that it is a big world out there with big ideas and people who have overcome odds that no one in their right mind would have taken. The Louvre isn’t just an art museum; the Duomo in Florence isn’t just a towering cathedral; the Grand Canyon isn’t just a gorge; and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony isn’t merely a piece of music. They all offer us a chance to escape on the one hand, and transcend what ails us on the other. They renew our spirit…without alcohol, drugs, or any negative stimulus. What’s that worth? Is it worth protecting? Preserving? Promoting?

I hope reason prevails at Brandeis. I haven’t visited that particular museum but I know the donors who made sacrifices of their time and hard earned financial rewards have every intention of giving back to others the “good medicine” that had nursed them and inspired them during their lives. Their generosity surely wasn’t intended as an “ace in the hole” for a rainy day. And once this type thing begins, where does it end? What cultural treasure will be next? Are we too busy as a nation to care? Are we too callous to see that it’s not always just about money…that the arts don’t have a price…like love and the other elements that give life meaning, they are priceless?

Not since 1966 have floodwaters battered this unique jewel of civilization so forcefully, but the city of Venice and its citizens are coping. The normal flood level is set at 40 inches, but high tides raised the water level to as high as 61 inches on Monday. They have since receded to 39 inches making it the fourth highest flood level in contemporary times. Normally local officials are able to erect wooden platforms to aid pedestrians in their movements and allow businesses to continue operations as much as possible. But on this occasion the flood waters rose so quickly that such preparations weren’t possible leaving memorable scenes of tables and chairs floating in the Piazza San Marco. These images, courtesy of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, show the day to day reality for those living in or visiting the beautiful city of Venice.

Construction began five years ago on the Moses Project, a series of offshore dams designed to mitigate and hopefully prevent such flooding. However, this $5.5 billion project won’t be complete before 2011—and by my experience living in Italy for five years, that date sounds very optimistic! Global warming is the explanation always offered by Italian officials when explaining the cause of this problematic reality of life in Venice. Of course, the construction of the city on this marshy lagoon perhaps wasn’t the greatest of ideas in the first place. Still, the beauty and romance of this one of a kind city is inarguable and represents one of man’s great creative achievements in city design. It is a magical place all people who enjoy travel should one day visit.

(A woman walks past the Doge’s Palace (on the right) towards St. Mark’s Basilica.

Photo courtesy of Andrea Pattaro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images; WSJ.)

(A man wades past shops decorated for Christmas.

Photo courtesy of Andrea Pattaro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images; NYT.)

(People walk on a flooded quay of the Grand Canal.

Photo Courtesy of Andrea Pattaro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images; NYT.)

(Duncan Zuur, of the Netherlands, took full advantage of a flooded Venice Canal on Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

Photo Courtesy of Joerg Mitter/Euro-Newsroom.com via Reuters; WSJ.)

For all those new to my blog, welcome!!! I write regularly about our ongoing research on the Monuments Men, stories about developments in the world of restitutions, and our effort to complete the mission of the Monuments Men by locating and returning some of the still missing hundreds or thousands of works of art and millions of documents stolen by the Nazis. Just last year we located the “Hitler Albums” (for more details, please visit The Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art website at www.monumentsmen.org), two albums of photographs which were in Hitler’s possession in his home at Berchtesgaden when Western Allied Forces arrived in mid-May, 1945. The photographs documented works of art stolen by Hitler and the Nazis from French collections during their occupation of France. Hitler and Goering would often flip through these albums and 39 other such albums admitted into evidence at the Nuremburg trials much as someone today might shop from a catalogue. Other such albums exist, of that we can be sure. But where are they? Who has them?

Books stolen from thousands of libraries remain missing; drawings, paintings, and sculpture in the hundreds of thousands are still being searched for worldwide, all examples of the legacy of Hitler and the Nazis. The Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art is the only organization motivated to finish the work of the Monuments Men by illuminating the path home for these missing items. As a not-for-profit IRS approved 501 (c) (3) organization, it by definition has no financial interest, rather it hopes to continue the work it began last year. In fact, The Monuments Men Foundation was the 2007 recipient of the National Humanities Medal for its role in rescuing the story of the Monuments Men and its work preserving their legacy.

Perhaps you have or know of some work of art, book or document that was “liberated” during World War II? Perhaps you have information about one of the Monuments Men or have photographs related to their amazing work which you would like to share with us? Maybe you would like to provide financial help to the Monuments Men Foundation and become part of a growing number of people who believe that the leadership role of the Monuments Men in the protection of cultural property during wartime is a rich legacy we should preserve. After all, we need look no further than the disastrous consequences of the aftermath of the looting of the Iraq National Museum to see the danger to our nation and its world standing to appreciate the importance of this matter and the inherent responsibility we as a nation have during such conflicts. Possibly you just want to learn more about the Monuments Men and how they established the standard for protection of cultural property during World War II.

Whatever the reason, we invite all those interested in learning how you can help to visit The Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art website. All inquiries will be kept confidential if requested.

Tonight PBS will broadcast to the nation our documentary film, The Rape of Europa. This wonderful film will be seen by millions of people unfamiliar with the subject of Hitler and the Nazis’ premeditated looting of Europe and their use of art as a weapon of propaganda to promote their racial theories. Making any film is a challenge. Making a great film, one good enough that PBS would allocate such a prominent slot for its airing during "sweeps" week, is a rare achievement which speaks to the importance of the subject matter. While this is a significant milestone, it is only the first of several that will follow.

We are very excited about providing that PBS audience, and of course people everywhere, the opportunity to learn more about this important story…about the heroes who saved so much of the art, the Monuments Men…about the behind the scenes stories we filmed…about the lessons learned, and those that were ignored…about how the events of World War II should have prepared us for the events that unfolded after the looting of the Iraq National Museum in 2003. These stories couldn’t be told in just two hours and for that reason, and for that reason we created The Rape of Europa Collector’s Edition which contains almost 7 additional hours of interviews, archival footage, and in-depth analysis of key events that were only briefly covered in the two hour film. One example of this extended content is our interview with Corine Wegener, a retired Army major who served in Iraq working to repair the damage to not only their national museum, but our country’s image. This unique DVD is only available on Amazon and is being offered at a special introductory price for a limited time. You can link to order that DVD by clicking on http://www.rapeofeuropa.com.

Of far greater importance is our educational program which is named The Greatest Theft in History Educational Program! This Educational Program is innovative and comprehensive providing a resource not currently available to educators and students. It provides on-line lesson plans customized for classroom instruction by our nationally acclaimed group of educators under the supervision of our Educational Advisory Board members. (To see the names of our team of educators and Educational Advisory Board and their CV’s, please click on the following links: http://www.greatesttheft.com/advisoryboard and http://www.greatesttheft.com/writingteam). This program will enable teachers to concentrate their time on teaching, not on looking for materials to teach. By making clips from our Educational DVD and other material we will be continually adding to the website along with other unique features, we have constructed a “one-stop does all” destination for anyone interested in learning more about the protection of cultural resources during armed conflict, the events of World War II and how critical a factor art was to Hitler and the Nazis’ plans, and of course the heroes of the story, the Monuments Men. Our hours of extended interviews and other materials will allow students and interested parties of all ages to participate in the writing of this final chapter to World War II. The students of today will be the ones assisting us in solving the remaining riddles and mysteries of this amazing chapter of the war including developing clues as to the whereabouts of so much of the still missing art and other cultural treasures stolen during the war.

We have constructed this Educational Program with affordability in mind by pricing the entire program at $35/ program which includes the almost 9 hour Educational DVD and access to the custom designed website which contains lesson plans and other teaching resources making it accessible for people of all ages and interests. Already the responses from teachers and other organizations has been gratifying and rewarding…but it is just the beginning.

Today marks the launch of our new website, The Greatest Theft in History Educational Program (www.greatesttheft.com). Building this site and getting it operational was a monumental task for several reasons no one could possibly have foreseen. Obstacle after obstacle was tossed before us by others: still, we have prevailed. A long held dream, now 12 years in the making, of seeing the remarkable legacy of the Monuments Men — and so many others of the "greatest generation" — put to its highest and best use, has now become a reality. The first and most difficult step has been taken. Our new website, constructed by teachers, for teachers and students of all ages, provides a new and distinct way for the lessons of World War II to be taught focusing on the theft of not only lives, but of property, culture, art. We have only just begun to introduce to the public the vast storehouse of material we have assembled while enlisting their help in writing this fascinating and critically important final chapter to World War II. Much work lies ahead, but I am confident that our team will demonstrate and prove once again that shared commitment for a higher cause yields a power that no commercial enterprise can match.

Great achievements are possible because of the dedicated commitment and sacrifice of others, in our case a very small group of individuals who worked together, tirelessly and unselfishly, to make my vision a reality. Our Greatest Theft Educational Program nearly 9 hour DVD will be available in a week or so exclusively at www.greatesttheft.com. We are proud of the distinguished group who served on our Educational Advisory Board, our team of nationally recognized Educators, and all those in our Dallas office who have given so generously of themselves to create the most excellent product on a nearly impossible deadline. I’ve never been more proud of any team in my long career. Special thanks go to our Stratosphere team who have worked without stop to complete the job of others in superb fashion. It is one of the finest examples of professionalism I have ever had the pleasure to witness. And of course, our many supporters, none more important or deliberate in expressing their support than the National Endowment for the Humanities, have been instrumental in us realizing this goal.

Much more information will be made available in the days and weeks ahead. We look forward to sharing with you some very big announcements. Stay tuned.

As I think back over the many battles that have been waged to make this material available to the public, via our new educational website and the accompanying DVD, I reflect on how often the words of the great General Eisenhower, delivered on June 12, 1945, comforted me. It was on that date that the General was honored by the City of London for the skilled leadership he provided in leading the Western Allied Forces to their defeat of HItler and the Nazis. General Eisenhower’s remarks, prepared by him without edit from others, demonstrated once again his fundamental decency and magnanimity towards others. In receiving this honor, General Eisenhower said the following (excerpted remarks):

"The high sense of distinction I feel in receiving this great honor is inescapably mingled with feelings of profound sorrow. Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in blood of followers and the sacrifices of his friends. He may have given everything of his heart and mind to meet the spiritual and physical needs of his comrades. He may have written a chapter that will glow forever in the pages of military history. Still, such a man–if he existed–would sadly have to face the facts that his honors cannot hide in the memories crosses marking the resting places of the dead. They cannot soothe the anguish of the widow or orphan whose husband or father will not return. The only attitude in which a commander may, with satisfaction, receive the tributes of his friends is in the humble acknowledgement that no matter how unworthy he may be, his position is the symbol of great human forces that have labored, arduously and successfully, for a righteous cause."

Our nation has been so fortunate to have had the steady leadership of Dr. Bruce Cole as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities for almost 8 years making him the most longstanding chairman in the Endowment’s history! Normally the departure of such a great and inspirational leader would be a loss to our nation. Certainly, Dr. Cole’s successor will have some big shoes to fill. But at the same time, Dr. Cole built a core team of professionals, many of whom will remain behind to ably continue executing the many initiatives he developed, such as Picturing America. Change is good; hopefully a new leader appointed by the incoming administration of President-elect Obama will be just as favorable for the Endowment. Now, however, we can only admire the many amazing accomplishments of the outgoing chairman, Bruce Cole. Consider the following:

Appointed NEH Chairman by President George W. Bush, Cole was confirmed by the Senate in 2001, and reconfirmed in 2005 for a second term. Cole is the longest serving Chairman in the history of the Endowment. During his tenure, NEH launched innovative humanities programs, including We the People and Picturing America. Under his leadership, NEH led the application of digital technology to the humanities through its Office of Digital Humanities. The office established innovative new grant programs and formed ground-breaking partnerships with the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. Cole has also worked to broaden the international reach of NEH.

“For the past seven years, I had the honor of working with the talented staff at NEH, our National Council on the Humanities, and the state humanities councils to preserve and promote the best of the humanities,” said Cole. “Programs such as We the People and Picturing America bring humanities education to the forefront and increase understanding of our unique history among our citizens. I depart as a grateful American, with profound appreciation for NEH’s commitment to the critical importance of the humanities. I look forward to continuing to promote the understanding of American history in my new endeavor.”

As NEH Chairman, Cole’s highest priority has been to reinvigorate our citizens’ knowledge of American history. At NEH, he approved more than 3,000 grants and $292.7 million dollars in funding for projects about U.S. history and culture, and was responsible for $759 million dollars in overall grant funding during his tenure. The Endowment’s budget also increased during this period.

In 2002, Cole established We the People, a program to improve the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture. Notable We the People projects include Landmarks of American History and Culture workshops for school and community college teachers offered at important American historic sites, as well as the We the People Bookshelf, which annually distributes classic books that explore enduring American themes to thousands of libraries.

One of Cole’s major initiatives at NEH has been Picturing America. Designed to help students understand America’s national story through art, Picturing America brings great American art into classrooms and libraries nationwide, enabling people of all ages to gain a deeper appreciation of our country’s history and character. Through Picturing America, schools and public libraries receive forty large, high-quality reproductions of American art, along with resources to help educators use the images to teach American history, literature, civics, and other subjects.

During the first Picturing America application period in 2008, nearly one-fifth of all U.S. schools and public libraries applied for the program. This fall, working with the American Library Association, NEH made more than 36,000 Picturing America awards to schools, public libraries and Head Start Centers nationwide, and expects to award thousands more by the end of the year. As part of the Picturing America initiative, NEH formed partnerships with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the National Park Service.

What makes this news so happy in a way was the simultaneous announcement that Dr. Cole was joining the American Revolutionary Center at Valley Forge as its president and Chief Executive Officer in January, 2009. As unbelievable as it may seem, our nation does NOT have a center dedicated to the study of the American Revolution! It seems impossible to believe that for all the monuments and educational centers we do have, something as important and formative as the events that lead to the founding of our nation and the lasting principles of democracy upon which it was founded, are not permanently recognized for people of this nation and those abroad to enjoy. Bruce Cole has many skills but none greater than a keen awareness of history and how to make it come alive for people of all ages. This is a signature skill of his that has been demonstrated in every project he has undertaken. Congratulations to Dr. Cole and the leadership of the American Revolutionary Center. And to Dr. Cole, my team says a special word of thanks for the tremendous support our work has received from the National Endowment for the Humanities team.

Today is THE day to fly your flag, to display your appreciation for the sacrifice of so many millions of Americans who have had their lives changed, and in too many instances, lost, in service to our nation.

Brave men and women have given years of their lives to ensure that we enjoy the freedoms which define the society in which we live. Expressing our “thanks” may seem like a small gesture by comparison, but I can attest to the fact that an appreciative gesture of any sort is always well-received. Oftentimes I see people in airports walk up to men and women in uniform, returning home or on leave, to say “thanks for your service to our nation”. The soldiers may appear shy, or just say “thanks” in return, but I promise you, they are welling up with pride inside. My mom took my son and niece with two weeks ago to shop for some “goodies” to ship overseas to our soldiers in Iraq. One of our Monuments Men, Harry Ettlinger, regularly goes to the airport near his home town to greet returning vets, one veteran to another. I’ve seen people give up their seats in the front of airplanes to allow a serviceman or woman to sit in a better seat. There are countless other ways to “do something” to express your appreciation to these great soldiers, all of which will leave you feeling better and will be immeasurably well-received by our heroes.

(Robert Edsel receives the shofar)

The Dallas Holocaust Museum and Center for Education and Tolerance hosted a beautiful dinner last evening in my honor, a touching event attended by more than 650 people. A number of survivors were in attendance on what was an even more special day of somber celebration the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht. Co-chairs Ynette Hogue and Helen Risch organized a fantastic event much enjoyed by all. Honorary chairs Deedie Rose and Gail Sachson were generous in their remarks followed by the presentation to me of a shofar, a ram’s horn blown at important events such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur among others. The shofar signifies a special way of calling, a way of bringing attention to an important message. What an honor it was then, to receive this magnificent gift in front of so many caring and supportive people.

(Monuments Man Harry Ettlinger)

Words fail to express my appreciation to Monuments Man Harry Ettlinger, who traveled all this way to introduce me to the audience. Harry’s warmth and energy won over the crowd and further aroused interest in the work of the Monuments Men and our ongoing effort to put their legacy to the best possible use.

The Dallas Holocaust Museum is doing such important work in our community. Their ongoing plan to build a new museum in the West End area of downtown is proceeding well, even in these difficult times. Each day hundreds of visitors, in particular school kids, visit the museum and have a chance to learn about the horrific events that led to the Holocaust. Survivors often visit to meet and speak to these kids providing them with an experience they will cherish forever. The leadership of this important Dallas institution has wisely broadened their reach by emphasizing the role increased tolerance of others plays in building a more harmonious world. This is a great message to be delivering to kids through their schools, and it is no doubt one of the reasons the Dallas Holocaust Museum is growing in size and audience.

I want to express a special word of thanks to Jim Hogue and Elliott Dlin for their support of our work and making the event so memorable for me, my family, and my friends. It was an experience I will never forget.

(Diego Edsel)

During the election returns I received 7 phone calls from my 15 year old son asking me questions about our political system. "What is the electoral college?" Why don’t states percentage totals add up to 100%?" Lots and lots of questions from a young man watching his first United States election after living in Florence, Italy for almost 13 years. Clearly, he was one of those fired up youths of which we heard so much about during the final weeks of the campaigns. Surely the stirring of curiosity about our political system, in particular the election process, and a greatly increased voter turnout bodes well for our nation. With all due respect to Senator McCain, President-elect Obama stirred those passions, his rival did not. Now come the difficulty days ahead …governing, leading, inspiring, dreaming big while executing precisely.