Jesse Owens of USA winning gold for the long jump in the summer Olympics in Germany, 1936.โฃโฃ โฃโฃ The man saluting behind Owens is Lutz Long, a German who shared training tips with Owens and was the first to openly congratulate him after his final jump in full view of Hitler.
After the Olympics, the two kept in touch via mail. Below is Long's last letter to Owens while he was stationed with the German Army in North Africa during World War 2. Long was later killed in action during the allied invasion of Sicily in 1943.โฃโฃ โฃโฃ
"I am here, Jesse, where it seems there is only the dry sand and the wet blood. I do not fear so much for myself, my friend Jesse, I fear for my woman who is home, and my young son Karl, who has never really known his father.โฃโฃ
My heart tells me, if I be honest with you, that this is the last letter I shall ever write. If it is so, I ask you something. It is a something so very important to me.
It is you go to Germany when this war done, someday find my Karl, and tell him about his father. Tell him, Jesse, what times were like when we not separated by war. I am sayingโtell him how things can be between men on this earth.โฃโฃ โฃโฃ
If you do this something for me, this thing that I need the most to know will be done, I do something for you, now. I tell you something I know you want to hear. And it is true.โฃโฃ โฃโฃ
That hour in Berlin when I first spoke to you, when you had your knee upon the ground, I knew that you were in prayer.โฃโฃ โฃโฃ Then I not know how I know. Now I do. I know it is never by chance that we come together. I come to you that hour in 1936 for purpose more than der Berliner Olympiade.โฃโฃ โฃโฃ
And you, I believe, will read this letter, while it should not be possible to reach you ever, for purpose more even than our friendship.โฃโฃ โฃโฃ I believe this shall come about because I think now that God will make it come about. This is what I have to tell you, Jesse.โฃโฃ โฃโฃ
I think I might believe in God.โฃโฃ And I pray to him that, even while it should not be possible for this to reach you ever, these words I write will still be read by you.โฃโฃ โฃโฃ
Your brother,โฃโฃ Luz"โฃโฃ
More chilling historical photos: https://t.co/POrqRRccxc
Proud to support World Down Syndrome Day this Saturday by wearing our colourful socks. ๐
Weโre calling on all players and clubs to get involved for a great cause this weekend.
Watching Glen Campbell take on Classical Gas with the Boston Popsโhim front and center, outshining a full orchestra with nothing but six strings and insane talent. Timeless, untouchable, legendary. ๐ธโจ๐ฅ#GlenCampbellForever
A moment's silence at Adelaide Oval to pay respect to the victims of the Bondi tragedy, and offer condolences to their family, friends, and the Jewish community, followed by John Williamson and True Blue ๐
Thereโs an exciting new videographer position in the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) Communications department. Please help spread the word ๐ฅ
๐- https://t.co/34MQLSDNal