Display VbCrLf's From Textarea To Textarea

how to dispaly text from a text area on a page as page copy (using the replace function)

How do I display this text inside another textarea, holding formatting? All variations of 'what I thought would work' do not.

I am using the following function:

Function DisplayMemo(theText)
DisplayMemo = ""
on error resume next
DisplayMemo = CStr(theText)
if (len(DisplayMemo) > 0) Then
DisplayMemo = Replace(DisplayMemo, vbCrLf, "<br>", 1, -1, 1)
end if
End Function

calling it like:

<textarea cols=119 name=ownSubmitted rows=7>" & DisplayMemo(getInfo(0)) & "</textarea>

NOTE: getInfo(0) is a variable holding my value. Yes the value is there. It is showing the text I want, however the <br>'s are rendered inside the text area?