The WWII Memorial on the Mall in Washington, DC opens for visitors today - one month before the official dedication on Memorial Day. My father served in WWII. He was in the last group of Marines to leave Quadacanal and won two Bronze Stars. I know he's proud of his service in the Marine Corps (26 years). And I know many of you have relatives who fought in that war and others. Any stories you care to share?

 

Different country but my father flew for the New Zealand Air Force and was shot down in Jan. 1943. He hooked up with the French underground and basically walked to Spain from Northern France. He then taught Evasion techniques before he joined the RAF Ferry Command based in Montreal and delivered aircraft to both Europe and the South Pacific for the duration. He passed away during the Winter after a long and distinguished career in Aviation and a day does not go by when I don't think of him and all his fellow veterans who gave so much so we can enjoy or toys in relative peace !

 

Isn't it amazing that it has taken this long to erect a monument to the veterans of WWII? Clearly, it was the defining "event" of the twentieth century. The scope of the effort and the scale of the sacrifice is completely off the chart compared to what we have lived through. I believe that, all in all, Tom Brokaw correctly identified them as the Greatest Generation. I know that I've said this before, but it is incredible to me that when our (vintage folks) parents generation was born, cars were just beginning to actually replace horses as the most common form of transportation, and as what could be thought of as the capstone achievement of their generation, they sent men to the moon.

 

My father and father-in-law both served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. The first thing that I would like to say is: I thank them for perserving our freedom as we know it. Secondly: Thank God we have gotten smarter about the way we send people into battle. Please do not mistake the light in which I mean this but more men were lost in the first few minutes of D-Day than we have lost in the first year in Iraq. Every loss is a tragedy for the families involved in any war. However, I cannot help but wonder if the media was as active during WWII in bringing us a "living room" war (such as Viet Nam was) if the outcome of WWII would not have been different?


I agree that it has taken way too long to honor all of the scarifices of the veterans of WWII. They literally changed the course of history.

With that stated: I have a request. This Memorial Day, please take a minute to really think about the meaning of the day. It is not about sales, or back yard BBQ's, although one is free to enjoy those activities. Just take a minute to think about all of those veterans then and now that have scarificed to serve their country and to honor those that made the ultimate scarifice to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy. And to remember those that are risking their lives to protect our way of life as I type this. Regardless of your political point of view or your sentiment about current events please remember that you have to thank the American Military as the keepers of freedom. I will remind you of the words of Voltaire: I may wholly disagree with what you say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it! (How ironic he was French)

 

No great past stories. We just visited Washington & walked by the Vietnam, Korean, & WWII memorials. All had different emotions tied to them of us. We were able to see the outside of the WWII memorial only - since it wasn't open yet. We will go back to see it again.