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John Bender became a Lutheran Minister. He served as an Army Chaplain during World War II from 1944 to 1945. He returned to active duty in 1948 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1964. Upon retirement, he started a new congregation at Ascension Lutheran Church in Montgomery, Ohio.
![trunk1-w](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/trunk1-w.jpg)
![trunkopen-w](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/trunkopen-w.jpg)
This trunk (circa 1930) carried my grandfather’s belongings when he went to Wittenberg. First, my grandmother and then my mom held onto this trunk. For 90+ years, it’s been in our family.
On my last visit with my parents, mom encouraged me to bring it home with me.
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The leather handles are long gone. The wood is fragile and shows remnants of multiple layers of paper lining. I treated the outside with a couple of coats of Antique Oil Finish and topped it with a piece of glass. It now sits between these chairs in my living room, a reminder of both family and tradition.
![trunk-finished](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/trunk-finished.jpg)
What a wonderful way to keep the memories alive.