Posted by
The Chopping Block on Thursday, June 05, 2008 12:00:00 AM
This past Memorial Day, I came to the realization that the one group of men that I admire the most for their courage and sacrifice, the WWII veterans, are all gone from my life. I grew up with these guys as my neighbors, family, friends, etc. My father, my uncles, my father-in-law--all WWII veterans and now, sadly, everyone of them has passed away. They were always around me as I grew up, everyday, in all ways..teachers, coaches, church leaders, boy scout leaders---WWII veterans were everywhere.
We will never see that culture again. Men and women who, having experienced the Great Depression and the Second World War, put it all behind them to start a family, own a home, build a career, do community work without any recognition, and raise their kids.
Now they are all gone. WWII veterans are dying at the rate of 2,000 a day, but that number means little to me. The ones in my life have already gone. I will miss them. Thank you guys, not only for your sacrifices to ensure our freedoms, but for providing us with everything we could ever want while we were growing up. In no small ways, you continued to sacrifice for our benefit, even after the war was over.