You need to know about Louis Zamperini

This Sunday, you will have the opportunity to hear about an outstanding individual by meeting his son. Luke Zamperini will be speaking at the Niswonger this Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.  Luke is the son of Louis Zamperini, who unfortunately passed on in 2014.

Some of you may be familiar with Louis’ story, maybe through the book or perhaps the movie Unbroken. If you have seen or read this story, you no doubt are interested in hearing his son’s personal account. And if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, you absolutely need to come this Sunday to hear about this amazing man.

I realize the word “amazing” is overused these days, but in the case of Louis Zamperini, it is most appropriate.

Louis was an Olympic athlete as a runner in the Berlin Olympics of 1936. Following his Olympic feats, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and became a bombardier in the Pacific in World War II.

Following a crash in the middle of the Pacific, he survived in a lifeboat at sea for a miraculous 47 days. The story of his survival is amazing in itself. He eventually was rescued, only to have it be by the Japanese.

He became a prisoner of war and the story continues again to be amazing. As a prisoner, he was put through incredible torture, perhaps partially because he was known as an Olympic hero. The stories of his treatment are beyond belief, yet through all of this, they were unable to break him. Thus the title of his book and movie of his story: “Unbroken.”

The movie, which was artfully produced and directed by Angelina Jolie, leaves the story at this point. An incredible story to be told … but not the whole story! You must read the book and/or come to the Niswonger this Sunday to find out “the rest of the story”, as Paul Harvey used to say.

Luke Zamperini will share with us first-hand stories his father used to tell him of his experiences. The most amazing part of the story is that, through his father’s conversion to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he found it in his heart to forgive his Japanese captors who so severely mistreated him during the war. In case you haven’t heard the story, I won’t give it all away. But I do hope that you are intrigued enough to come to the Niswonger this Sunday to hear Luke, see a film clip, and hear him talk and take questions about the life of his amazing father.

Luke lives in Los Angeles, where he is the chief inspector and Public Information Officer for the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. He is flying in from the West Coast just to share with all of us the story of his father. Tickets are $20 for any seat in the house. First Federal is the proud sponsor of this event, with support from Times Bulletin Media, Walmart, and Paulding Putnam Electric.

Unfortunately, Louis Zamperini passed on in 2014, but his son is continuing to speak all over the world and keeping his father’s legacy alive. The story of redemption and forgiveness is even more so amazing when you discover what he had to overcome. I invite you to the Niswonger to be inspired by the story of one of America’s real heroes. Louis Zamperini is not only an American hero, he is a hero of all mankind!

FINÉ.