From Europe to the Crossfire: Lessons from a WWII Pilgrimage

"Man, I went to six countries. We did Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, and Poland. It was a World War II sort of pilgrimage. So a little bit of vacation, but we went to very, very educational and meaningful sites where many of my ancestors living in Krakow and various regions around Poland and Hungary were taken to Auschwitz. I don't want to get too deep on that but that was the purpose of the trip i brought my children my wife and had a phenomenal experience in europe yeah how about you see you know uh i'm just a lowly guy and i just decided to go to athens greece for a nice two weeks vacation." --Eddie Ableser, Host of Cactus Crossfire

When you travel for history, you don’t just see the past—you feel it. In Episode 7 of Cactus Crossfire, Eddie Ableser shares the deeply personal story of his six-country journey across Europe, retracing the steps of his ancestors and confronting the legacy of World War II. This wasn’t just a vacation; it was a pilgrimage to places that shaped his family and, in many ways, the world as we know it.

The Journey: Six Countries, One Purpose

Eddie's route spanned the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, and Poland. At each stop, the echoes of history were impossible to ignore. The centerpiece of the trip was a visit to Auschwitz—the infamous concentration camp where so many lives, including those of Eddie’s extended family from Kraków and Hungary, were forever changed.

“We can never let this happen again. That was the purpose of the trip.”

It’s a vow that transcends generations, one that resonates with anyone who has walked through the gates of a site marked by unimaginable loss.

Family Legacy and the Meaning of “Never Again”

For Sisto, World War II isn’t just a chapter in a textbook. It’s family history. Stories passed down from grandparents, members of the “greatest generation,” who fought in Europe and witnessed firsthand the horrors—and the hope—that defined the 1940s.

“Our grandparents were part of that greatest generation. We heard from them what was happening in the ‘40s… how family members left the United States to go fight and liberate the Jews in Europe.”

These stories aren’t just about war; they’re about survival, resilience, and the ongoing fight for justice and memory.

Modern Parallels: October 7th and Today’s Conflicts

The lessons of WWII are not locked in the past. As Eddie walks through the Holocaust Museum, he’s struck by the chilling relevance of its message in light of modern events—like the October 7th attack at the Supernova concert, where 1,200 people lost their lives.

History isn’t just something to remember; it’s something to act on.“We can never let this happen again.”

Why Remembering Matters

In a world where the details of the past can fade into the background noise of the present, pilgrimages like Eddie's serve as a powerful reminder: Memory is resistance. Reflection is action. And the vow of “never again” must be renewed with every generation.

As we confront new conflicts, rising extremism, and the temptation to forget, Cactus Crossfire invites listeners to dig deeper, do the homework, and raise the conversation. Because the lessons of history are only as powerful as our willingness to learn from them.

Call to Action:

Want more stories that connect the past to the present? Listen to Episode 7 of Cactus Crossfire—out now.

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