First things first. This in not a school story so one of you can relax.
One this Memorial Day weekend there is a real nice article about an organization called Indy Honor Flight in The Indianapolis Star. This organization is located in Mooresville, Indiana and seeks donations so that they can cover all travel expenses so that older veterans who don't have the means can travel to Washington, D.C. to see there respective war memorial. The picture that accompanies this article is of a World War II veteran who is sitting at his memorial. Engraved in what looks like granite it reads Anzio, Rome and Po Valley which is where he fought for three years. It's an impressive picture but at the same time sad. There are three members of the greatest generation in this picture and you can tell they have aged. All are in strollers and are easily in there nineties.
As I was reading the article and looking at the picture my Dad came to mind. He died at a young age just forty five so I have few memories of him as I was only ten. What I do know is that he is a member of the greatest generation as he fought in World War II with the First Infantry Division. I know that because I've seen pictures of him in Europe in a uniform that had an arm patch on it. The patch looked like a shield and had a large one in the center of it. I also know this about my Dad he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. If he was alive today he'd be ninety eight. If he was alive I don't know if he would have been interested in making the trip to his memorial but after looking at the picture in the paper I decide I'm going to go to his memorial. Given the prominence of the Battle of the Bulge I'm certain that I will find the name engraved in granite just like Angio, Rome and Po Valley. When I find it I'm going to say to my Dad thank you for serving our country. I never got to say that to him when he was alive.
After paying my respects to the greatest generation I think I'll put my hat on and take a little stroll across the mall. My destination will be that black wall with the gray names engraved in it that is the shape of an obtuse angle. When I get there I'll take my hat off and thank God again that I can home alive and then say a prayer for the fifty four thousand plus that didn't. I suspect it will be an emotional time for me.
Allan, that's a wonderful posts.
ReplyDeleteI listen to a lot of audio books, and now I'm listening to "Inferno: The World At War 1939-1945" by Max Hastings. If you're interested in learning about the experiences of soldiers and civilians on both sides all around the world, this book might be hard to beat.