A Quick Salute to a Brave Man

I just read a news item today that said that Leopold Englietner died on April 21 at age 107.

You may be thinking:  that's a long time to live.  Is that why he was brave?  Is that why you are posting this?

No.  Mr. Englietner was the oldest known Holocaust survivor who was imprisoned and tortured, only because of his beliefs.  Englietner was one of Jehovah's Witnesses; a group of people who were put in concentration camps because they would not renounce their faith and would not "Heil Hitler".

If you haven't done so, you can read his story in the book, "Unbroken Will".  You can also read the article here:

Mail Online Article

Whether you agree with Jehovah's Witnesses or not, the history of Witnesses in the Nazi camps is important enough that it has a special section in the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.  The Witnesses, who were identified by the purple triangle sewn on their clothing in the camps, were the only group that had the option of being released from the camp if they would just sign a document renouncing their faith.  The vast majority refused to do so, including Brother Englietner.  He toured and spoke for many years, telling his story and warning of the dangers of intolerance.

If you have a moment, read the linked article above.  Don't worry...it's short.  Far shorter than it should be.  But this humble man left his mark, serving God through some of the greatest horrors imaginable and telling that story to many.